…denies meeting President Wickremesinghe

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Chairman of the Elections Commission R.M.A.L. Rathnayake yesterday (16) said that the EC couldn’t interfere with the right of those representing the legal profession or any other from seeking to thwart the scheduled presidential elections.

Rathnayake said so in response to The Island query whether the EC would seek a dialogue with those seeking to sabotage the presidential election at the behest of some individuals and political parties. He said the EC had, through the Attorney General, made the required submissions before the Supreme Court to defeat the moves aimed at delaying the presidential election.

Rathnayake called a special media briefing in the wake of the dismissal of petitions filed by businessman C.D. Lenawa and Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri by the Supreme Court, which also ordered the two petitioners to pay Rs 100,000 and Rs 500,000, respectively, as costs. Rathnayake was flanked by EC members H. M. T. D. Herath, Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake, M.A.P.C. Perera, Ms Anusuya Shamuganathan and Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayake.

Pointing out that both petitioners sought to halt the presidential election process, Rathnayake disclosed that the EC discussed the issue at hand with the Attorney General at length.

The EC declared that having overcome the legal challenges, the independent body was proceeding with the work to hold the election, according to the laid down schedule. The EC emphasised that between July 17 (today) and 31, the EC would announce the date of the presidential election. At the onset of the briefing, Rathnayake said that the election would be definitely held between Sept. 17 and Oct. 16.

Responding to another query, the EC Chairman denied President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recent claim that members of the EC had met him.

Over 17 million people would be eligible to vote at the election, Ratnayake said, adding that the EC was in the process of working out arrangements with relevant officials, including the IGP, Post Master General and the Government Printer.

Asked whether sufficient funds had been made available to meet the rising cost of material and services, Rathnayake said that the 2015 presidential election cost the taxpayer Rs 2.7 bn, in 2019 the expenditure went up to Rs 4.4 bn and in terms of the latest estimates, the government has already allocated Rs 10 bn.

Rathnayake admitted that they still lacked a mechanism to prevent dual citizens from handing over nominations as contestants. When pressed for an answer, Rathnayake said that the EC didn’t have the time and space to decide on candidates’ citizenship status during the two and half hours allocated to accept nominations.

Commenting on the social media coverage of the forthcoming poll, Rathnayake urged the media to be cautious and responsible in their reportage. The EC Chairman said that the media and other interested parties shouldn’t make an issue over the EC not making the announcement relating to the presidential election on July 17, the day it received authority, constitutionally to do so. Rathnayake said the EC could delay making the announcement till August 20 and work accordingly to hold the poll between Sept 17 and Oct 16.