PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL CHARGES ALSO CONTESTING LG POLLS: PAFFREL

The People’s Action For Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) said despite its continual request, the government failed to set out the requirements to be a candidate to contest the elections resulting in several individuals facing criminal charges being permitted to contest the upcoming polls.

Addressing a workshop in Colombo for long term election monitors, PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said one of the main responsibilities of PAFFREL was to launch a public awareness programme to prevent the election of criminals.

Long term election monitors from all over the county attended the workshop.

He pointed out that it was the duty of the public to elect candidates of high calibre to bring about a people-friendly political

Duty of the public to elect candidates of high calibre to bring about a people-friendly political culture

culture. “PAFFREL requesed all political parties to reveal their criteria in selecting candidates prior to the nominations. However we did not receive a positive response from any political party. Several individuals who were facing criminal charges had been nominated. Secretaries of political parties and electoral organizers are responsible for this situation. We are not in a position to reveal the names of unscrupulous individuals contesting the election at this stage due to legal implications. They are motivated by one thing and one thing only: to amass wealth by means of contracts by misusing their power. Chairman of the Election Commission is facing hardship in his attempt to enforce the election laws. It is the paramount duty of the party leaders and candidates to uphold the election laws,” he said.

He further said that he was pleased to find that cutouts and propaganda posters had reduced considerably.

PAFFREL National Organiser Sujeewa Gayanath also addressed the workshop.