Military, state officers under EC scrutiny

Their social media accounts to be monitored for political views

For the first time during an election, state sector officials, those in the military and police have come under a microscope for airing their views on the social media including Facebook.

“The Election Commission's legal division will monitor the social media and any partisan views expressed by them will make them liable for action,” EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told the Sunday Times.

“This way, we will know who is acting with political bias. Such conduct will be brought to the attention of the Public Administration Ministry and the Police for further investigations,” he said. Mr Deshapriya noted that “Speaking for myself, I am reluctant to do this. However, it has to be done in the national interest."

In a separate move, the Election Commission, Mr Deshapriya said, had asked the Police to conduct a full inquiry into the conduct of five State Ministers who had continued to use their official vehicles till March. These vehicles, with election propaganda material pasted on them, had been used in campaign work, he said but declined to identify the State Ministers concerned.

Police Spokesman Jaliya Senaratne told the Sunday Times that the former state ministers who were still to return their vehicles were Roshan Ranasinghe (Mahaweli Development) who continues to use two vehicles, Sanath Nishantha Perera ( Fisheries and Inland Fisheries) who continues to use one vehicle, Arundika Fernando (Tourism Promotion) who continues to use two vehicles. Mohan Priyadharshana de Silva ( Human Rights and Law Reforms) and Keheliya Rambukwella (Investment Promotion) handed over their vehicles after investigations began.

Mr Deshapriya said the involvement of state officials in party politics had been an important issue for the Election Commission. Through the Facebook and through various other social media outlets they make comments and make posts criticising different political parties.”

“We have not been strict so far,” but this time the Commission feels that there should be nominal punishment, even entries in their files. This is why we have entrusted both our legal unit and the investigation unit to undertake the task of monitoring.

Chairman Deshapriya also revealed that “four serious complaints” of using religious places for polls activity were now under investigation by the Police. “If it is proved, the candidates concerned will lose their civic rights. If they win, they will lose their seats.”