Presidential candidates barred from throwing parties for voters

•  It amounts to an offence under Presidential Elections Act   
• New debate sparked over action against a party that was to be hosted by a Presidential candidate  
• Candidates are not supposed to offer food, drink, refreshments  or gifts   

By Kelum Bandara 

The conduct of parties to lavish people with food,  drinks or refreshments by the presidential candidates amounts to an  offence under treating, in accordance with the Presidential Elections Act  and therefore they are barred from doing so, an official said  yesterday.   

In the past, candidates were used to host parties for their  supporters, but the matter was hardly raised at that time. However, a  fresh public debate has been sparked after the election authorities  stopped a party that was to be hosted by a presidential candidate in  Anuradhapura for professionals and academics based in the area.  

Asked about the matter, Additional Election Commissioner-  Legal Chintaka Kularatne told Daily Mirror that such treating amount to  inducements in terms of the Presidential Election Act, and therefore  candidates in the fray were not supposed to raise it.  

According to Section 77 of the Act, treating is an  offence. Candidates are not supposed to offer food, drink, refreshments  or gifts.   

Presidential campaigns have become marathons for those in  the contest. They now proceed through door-knocking, meetings,  candidate debates, media interviews and leafleting. People will go to the polls on September 21.