Gampaha cycle race violates election regulations: CaFFE

An election monitor criticised the bicycle race organised yesterday in the Gampaha district, named after former Western Province Chief Minister and UPFA contestant at the upcoming elections, Prasanna Ranatunga pointing out it was a grave violation of election regulations.

According to the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), the bicycle race held yesterday had been organised inclusive of over seven electorates in the Gampaha district.

“It is our observance that this bicycle race was directly used to promote the candidature of Prasanna Ranatunga and was a blatant violation of election laws. What is even more dubious is the manner in which police security was provided to commit this election law violation,” CaFFE Executive Director Ranjith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday said.

He said that apart from the 40 participants of the cycle race, about 60 more motorcycles had also travelled alongside the bicycles with riders wearing T-shirts bearing Prasanna Ranatunga’s name and distributing his campaign and promotion material such as stickers.

Meanwhile, CaFFE said they

It is our observance that this bicycle race was directly used to promote the candidature of Prasanna Ranatunga and was a blatant violation of election laws. What is even more dubious is the manner in which police security was provided to commit this election law violation

had received 815 complaints of election law violations with 487 being reported from the Western Province, while 311 had been reported from the Southern Province.

“Out of the total complaints from the Western Province, some 102 have been reported from the Gampaha district,” Tennakoon added.

He further added that the weekend was flooded with incidents of election law violations in both provinces, with a rise in illegal propaganda activities through actions such as promoting contestants using loudspeakers.