Question mark over compatibility of pacts among political parties with constitutions endorsed by EC

by Shamindra Ferdinando

The Election Commission (EC) yesterday said it did not scrutinise the agreements various political parties entered into in the run-up to the presidential election.

A top EC official said so when The Island asked whether such agreements were perused by the EC as the registration of political parties required the acceptance of their constitutions and their compatibility with the country’s Constitution.

Both President and independent candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe and SJB candidate Sajith Premadasa entered into agreements with several recognised political parties, represented in Parliament, in support of their presidential polls campaigns.

Political sources said that against the backdrop of the largest single switching of allegiance in political history – about 100 SLPP MPs pledging their support to President Wickremesinghe – the EC seemed to have lost control of the situation. The ruling SLPP is the worst affected party with almost 130 of its 145 elected and appointed MPs switching allegiance to President Wickremesinghe, SJB leader Premadasa and the Mawbima Janatha Party (MJP).

Sources pointed out that so far only the SJB constituent, the SLMC, had initiated disciplinary action with a view to unseating members, Ali Zahir Moulana and H.M.M. Harees for closing ranks with President Wickremesinghe in definace of the SLMC’s decision to back Sajith Premadasa’s candidature.

Meanwhile, MP Wimal Weerawansa’s National Freedom Front (NFF), which reached an electoral pact with Dilith Jayaweera’s MJP has been reduced to three members after three MPs, namely Mohammed Muzammil (National List), Jagath Priyankara (Puttalam District) and Nimal Piyatissa (Nuwara Eliya District) deserted the party. Nimal Piyatissa has joined President Wickremesinghe’s camp, whereas Jagath Priyankara and Muzammil have pledged their support to the President, through a New Alliance comprising members of the SLFP and SLPP.

Former Minister Weerawansa has been left with only Deputy Leader Jayantha Samaraweera (Kalutara district) and Gamini Waleboda (Ratnapura district).

Early this year, the NFF lost one member when actor-turned-politician Uddhika Premaratne (Anuradhapura district) resigned, paving the way for a SLPPer to fill the vacancy.