Appointment of Harin, Manusha as advisors violates election laws: Anura Kumara

Colombo, August 19 (Daily Mirror)- Appointment of former Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara as Presidential advisors is in violation of election laws, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

He told a news conference that the Elections Commission has issued a circular preventing new appointments during the election period and that the said appointments have been made while violating the circular.

Dissanayake said President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed Harin and Manusha as advisors to their previous Ministries and said that this allows them to intervene in the activities of these Ministries, entertain perks and privileges such as vehicles and funds.

He said the entire UNP camp is entertained by state funds where UNPers such as Akila Viraj, Sagala Ratnayake, Ashu Marasinghe etc. have been given advisory posts and Navin Dissanayake was appointed as a Governor.

Dissanayake said the President was misusing state resources and funds for his election campaign while violating election laws and that the Election Commission has been unable to stop that.