Former NCP Chief Minister summoned by Court
Election law states that state property cannot be used for the benefit of a candidate. These instructions had been flouted by the heads of these public institutions and government property was being used in this manner as if they were their private properties
Former North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake, the Council’s Chief Secretary and the Governor’s Secretary among others were yesterday noticed to appear in the NCP High Court on August 22.
High Court Judge Sunanda Kumara Ratnayake made this order after con- sidering a petition which alleged that Mr. Dissanayake was using Council vehicles for his election propaganda work.
The petition was filed by the Anuradhapura “Api Purawesiyo” organisation led by joint conveners Jayathilake Bandara and Priyantha Fernando.
Senior Attorney Karunaratna Herath appeared for the petitioners.
He said the NCP elections were to be held on September 8, and section 104(a) of the Constitution states that from the date of the declaration of elections up to the time results were released are considered as the election period and if any property belonging to the government was used in a manner beneficial to a candidate from a political party it was an offence and such use was prohibited by the Elections Chief.
The attorney said these instructions had been flouted by the heads of these public institutions and government property was being used in this manner as if they were their private properties.
Mr. Dissanayake, Governor’s Secretary Chandra Karunaratne, the NCP Chief Secretary W.G. Dayananda, Ananda Kularatne, the Chief Minister’s Secretary Nayana Dissanayake, Provincial Health Ministry Secretary P.K. Jayalath Provincial Highways Ministry Secretary R. K. Premasiri, Provincial Agricultural Ministry Secretary Chandra Chandradasa, Provincial Cooperatives, Food and Trade Ministry Secretary A.M.W.A. Amunugama, Provincial Road Development Au- thority Manager Senarath Pushpakumara, Provincial Education Director Nirmala Ekanayake, Provincial Roadway Development Machinery and Equipment Agency Chairman Upali Samarajeewa and U.A. Dissanayake were cited as respondents.