• EC says those who refuse to remove will be prosecuted

Three wheel drivers unions yesterday (8) threatened to defy orders to remove any political stickers or slogans from their vehicles amidst regulations against political display and warnings from the Police.

This as the Police and the Elections Commission assert that those who are in breach of election laws will be dealt with according to the law. 

“I will not remove any flags or stickers from my vehicle even if they throw me in jail,” President of the All Island Three Wheeler Driver’s Union, Lalith Dharmasekara, told The Daily Morning on Thursday (5). “I will be very happy to go to jail for our President Ranil Wickremesinghe.”

Dharmasekara said that several three-wheel drivers have not removed their posters and stickers and are reluctant to do so, despite election laws and police warnings. Despite warnings issued by the Elections Commission, many three-wheelers are seen sporting stickers that promote political parties and their candidates in and around Colombo.  

“We have a right to express ourselves freely and support the candidate of our choice,” Dharmasekara said.

However, the Election Commission declared that those who do not remove any political posters or stickers would be detained by the Police and prosecuted.

“The election law has mandated that they refrain from promoting candidates through these political stickers and banners,” Commissioner General of the Election Commission, Saman Sri Ratnayke, said.  “If they do not comply the Police will detain them, produce them before court and punishment, which will most likely be a fine, will be given.”

Section 74 of the Presidential Elections Act 1981 states that the punishment of promoting political agendas using banners, flags or stickers is a fine of hundred rupees and/or imprisonment for up to a month.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, the Sri Lanka Police said that three-wheeler drivers who refuse to remove their stickers will be arrested and charged under the Presidential Elections Act.

"They cannot refuse to remove their stickers," Police Media Spokesperson DIG Nihal Thalduwa said. "If they do, we will arrest them."

The Police warned private citizens to abstain from using political stickers and to remove any banners or stickers from vehicles saying that removal of stickers by the Police may result in damage to the vehicle.  

Four three-wheel drivers’ unions, including the All Island Three Wheel Drivers Union, have declared their support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Dharmasekara said several tuk drivers have political stickers showing their support. Other three-wheeler unions, and smaller regional collectives have been seen using their vehicles as a canvas to support other candidates, including Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake over the last month.