DailyMirror
Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayaka yesterday issued specific and strict instructions to prevent the misuse of State property for election purposes.
He said that he has powers to take over or restrict the use of such property for election propaganda until the conclusion of the Presidential election under Section 104 a (4) of the Constitution.
He dismissed the popular misconception that the election period starts from the day of receiving nominations and said the election period starts from the day of the declaration of the Presidential election by the President and ends with the conclusion of the election.
Requesting all those who are in charge of State property not to use State resources for election propaganda, he said he had received complaints on the misuse of Government owned cars, jeeps and helicopters for electioneering.
The use of Government offices and other buildings, holiday resorts, circuit bungalows and official vehicles for election purposes, free of charge, is totally prohibited.
Giving transfers, promotions and employment or conducting interviews for recruitments to the public service or semi- Government institutions are prohibited.
Conducting mobile services, exhibitions, and having opening ceremonies using State funds with the participation of politicians are prohibited. Carrying out publicity campaigns for a politician using State assets is also violation of the election law, Mr. Dissanayaka said.
“It is the responsibility of all public officials who are in charge of State assets not to make opportunities to use State assets under their charge for election propaganda by political parties as it will be a violation of the election law if they did so,” Mr. Dissanayaka emphasized.
Issue of temporary IDs from today
Issuing Temporary Identity cards for voters who do not have valid National Identity Cards will commence from today (15), the Commissioner for Registration of Persons, A. G. Dharmadasa said.
He said that already 2.1 million application forms had been dispatched to District Secretaries for the purpose. The application forms were dispatched first to Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar Districts of the Northern Province.
Describing the arrangements made, the Commissioner for Registration of Persons said that the applications will be sent to the Grama Seva Niladharis and the voters will be able to obtain their Identity Cards at the village level.
The completed applications have to be handed over to any one of the Samurdhi Assistants, Agricultural Research Officers or the Village School Principal.
Meanwhile, PAFFREL yesterday expressed concern over the Registration of Persons Commissioner A.G.Dharmadasa’s decision to authorize Samurdhi Development Officers (SDOs) and Agriculture Research Assistants (ARAs) to certify temporary identity cards. PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiaarachichi said that almost all ARAs and SDOs are political appointees and therefore there was room for them to misuse the opportunity under political pressure.
However, Mr. Dharmadasa said specific instructions have been issued preventing SDOs and ARAs who have engaged in political activities from certifying temporary identity card applications.