‘PLENTY OF INDUCEMENTS AT PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS’

The ruling UPFA continually flouts election law by offering various inducements and jobs to lure voters at the upcoming provincial council elections, polls observers said yesterday.

The People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFEL), after a fact finding mission to the election areas, said agricultural implements such as water pumps and mammoties were being distributed by the candidates of the UPFA in the north central province, where the majority

Water pumps and mammoties were being distributed by the candidates of the UPFA in the north central province, where the majority of people were farmers

of people were farmers.

Rohana Hettiarachchi, the Executive Director of PAFFREL, said water filters had been given to voters in one instance.

“In one case, a candidate had taken a lorry load of mammoties to a village in Anuradhapura. Only a few voters had turned up on that day to receive them.Later, the candidate had cancelled the function. Also, I learnt, during my visit to these areas, how application forms for Korean jobs had been distributed among prospective youths,” he said.

Also, he said the use of state vehicles was done unabated though the Elections Department ordered action against such violations.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hettiarachchi said he wrote to Skills Development Minister Dulles Alahapperuma to cancel a youth awareness programme planned to be conducted in the Anuradhapura district. It is outlined in the letter that such an event would have a direct impact on the elections.

“Former

Chief Minister Bertie Premalal Dissanayake, who is contesting this time, is the father of Deputy Minister of Skills Development Duminda Dissanayake. Therefore, any youth awareness programme by the Ministry will virtually be beneficial to the election campaign of the former Chief Minister. I asked Mr. Alahapperuma to cancel this programme as a result,” he said.

The PAFFREL also received a complaint yesterday about Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage distributing sports items in Eravur, Batticaloa.