Matale District Parliamentarian Rohini Kavirathna has filed a complaint with the Election Commission and District Returning Officer regarding a pamphlet distributed by the National People’s Power on local government funds.
The complaint is being forwarded to the Chairman and members of the Commission through the Secretary/MEC,
and the National Election Complaints Unit/Matale Election Complaints Unit.
The complaint is regarding the NEP pamphlet distributed in Matale.
The attached pamphlet has been distributed in several local government areas in Matale district.
It states: ‘The Pradeshiya Sabha receives funds from the current government. If another party comes to power in the local government, will the relationship between the Pradeshiya Sabha and the central government be broken and can the results be achieved properly?’
The President had also made a statement with a similar idea at a local government election campaign meeting.
The budget does not allocate money to the majority of the Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas in Matale District. However, the money of the local government institutions is collected by the central government.
The Act has legislated the provisions regarding the money due to the local government institutions. The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution has also clearly stated about the local government funds.
The executive or any other party has no power to deal with the funds/taxes/stamp duties legislated in the Second Schedule of the Municipal Councils Ordinance, the Fifth Schedule of the Urban Councils Ordinance, and the First and Second Schedules of the Pradeshiya Sabha Act.
This is a shameful interference in the voter’s right to vote. Blocking funds for a group other than one’s political party to maintain or not to maintain a local government institution is not a civilized democratic practice.
The distribution of pamphlets without the name and address of the printer and publisher (printing house) is also a violation of the election law. It is a violation of the Printers and Publishers Act No. 1 of 1885.
I was surprised and disappointed to see the announcement issued yesterday by the Director of Government Information regarding the above matter. I hope that the responsibility of the Election Commission to conduct a free and fair election will not be shirked further in the Matale District.
I kindly request that the distribution of the above misleading pamphlet in the Matale District be suspended with immediate effect. I complain that these pamphlets are currently in the possession of the Matale JVP head office, JVP constituency offices, offices established at polling station levels, and in the possession of the candidates and their door-to-door supporters.
Yours faithfully,
Rohini Kaviratna
SJB/Matale District Leader
Authorized Representative of Laggala Constituency
