• CMEV and PAFFREL note most reports on violations through LG development
• PAFFREL writes to IGP urging expeditious EC death threats’ probe  

Polls monitors yesterday (30) pointed out that among the cases relating to election law violations reported during the Local Government (LG) election campaigning period so far, the majority are in relation to the misuse of State property by the ruling party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) Head of Operations Attorney D.M. Dissanayake told The Daily Morning yesterday that information with regard to the misuse of State property had been recorded during the election campaigning period, especially from the ruling party. 

“We are receiving more information with regard to the use of State property, especially in relation to development programmes in LG bodies. We are informed that such development programmes are being used by the ruling party for election campaigning.” 

People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said yesterday that, so far, his organisation had recorded 15 cases  pertaining to election law violations and election violence, among which the majority relate to the misuse of public properties. “Incidences of State properties being misused are quite high, especially at the levels of the LG authorities. There are development programmes taking place in which LG authority resources are utilised. During the election period, this is a complete violation of the law.” 

Accordingly, PAFFREL is looking to deploy 7,000 observers at the upcoming poll.

Hettiarachchi also noted that PAFFREL had officially written to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne to expedite the probe in relation to the alleged death threats against three members of the Election Commission (EC). The letter stated: “In an environment where the Government is trying to withhold the election, the delay of these investigations will be a reason for breaking the confidence of the people and will also damage the pride of the Police Department.” 

Since a member of the EC had received threatening messages via WhatsApp, Police Spokesman, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), and Attorney Nihal Thalduwa said on 29 January that this could cause delays to the investigation, as there are international legal requirements to be met in order to obtain information from the relevant foreign organisations. When queried at a media briefing as to whether there could be potential inconveniences in carrying out investigations over the death threats to EC members, since the threatening messages had been sent via Whatsapp, he said: “WhatsApp is operated from abroad. Sri Lanka has no ownership. They should be contacted to obtain information. WhatsApp is established under a certain legal basis in a specific country. They are operating according to international laws. Therefore, there could be a delay in obtaining information.”

On 18 January, two members of the EC, namely S.B. Divaratne and K.P.P. Pathirana, had received death threats, demanding that they resign from their posts, following which an investigation was launched by the Criminal Investigations Department. On 27 January, another member of the EC, M.M. Mohamed, was subjected to similar threats over a phone call. Additionally, Divaratne had received threatening messages via WhatsApp on the same day.