MPs with no A/Levels, questioning CC: CaFFE

11 June 2015 11:31 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 29 Bookmark

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It was ironic that MPs who were among the 142 MPs who hadn’t passed their Advanced Level, were questioning the qualifications of the three members nominated to the Constitutional Council (CC), the CaFFE organisation said today.

“We have identified that a number of MPs, who were infamous for election law violations, election related violence, abusing State property, attempted intimidation of public servants and bribe voters, are at the forefront of the campaign to stop the CC being appointed,” Executive Director of CaFFE Keerthi Tennakoon said.

Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) is an election watchdog in the country and had been vociferously in support of the 19th and 20th Amendments to the Constitution.

“A number of MPs, including National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa, questioned the qualifications of the three nominated civil members to the CC, Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, Dr. Radhika Coomarswamy and A.W.A. Salam,” Tennakoon said.

“These are Parliamentarians who haven’t even passed their Advanced Levels in school,” he said.

Tennakoon said that with the failure of Parliament to come to a consensus on the three civil members, the activities of the Bribery Commission and the appointment of the Elections Commissioner have come to a standstill. (DS)