Lanka’s Ambassador in Myanmar accused of campaigning for SLPP, SLFP

… envoy seeks clarification

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Attorney-at-law Nishantha Palliyaguruge, in a letter to the Election Commission (EC), has accused Sri Lanka Ambassador in Myanmar Prof. Nalin de Silva of campaigning for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) as well as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

The SLFP contests on the SLPP ticket in all districts except Kalutara and Jaffna where the party submitted nominations under its symbol.

Palliyaguruge alleged that in spite of several complaints lodged with the EC, action was yet to be taken in that regard.

The EC consists of Mahinda Deshapriya, Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole and Nalin Abeysekera, PC.

 Attorney-at-law Palliyaguruge has said that Ambassador de Silva used a website and his Facebook account to promote selected candidates, including Prof. Channa Jayasumana (SLPP Anuradhapura District), Dinesh Gunawardena (SLPP Colombo District) and Maithripala Sirisena (SLPP Polonnaruwa).

 Alleging that Prof. De Silva had been unfairly critical of EC members, the complainant furnished several articles authored by the academic to justify his accusations. Lawyer Palliyaguruge questioned EC how a government servant paid by taxpayers money engaged in such political activity.

 Prof. De Silva was among those who received diplomatic appointments after the change of government in the wake of November 2019 presidential poll.

 Prof. De Silva, in his response to Attorney-at-law Palliyaguruge with copies to members of the EC, has asked what were the specific violations perpetrated by him as regards the Parliamentary Election law. The outspoken academic declared that he was not a government servant while finding fault with the lawyer for not writing his name properly.

Prof. De Silva made available the complaint against him as well as his response, both in Sinhala, to The Island.