News
Misuse of state resources on behalf of President major concern raised at EC meeting
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Some presidential candidates and their representatives yesterday raised concerns with the Election Commission (EC) about the misuse of state resources and the conduct of certain public officials in relation to the 2024 presidential election.
They said that the President’s Media Division, the Cabinet office and other state institutions were violating guidelines given by the Elections Commission and they had put other contestants at a disadvantage.
The EC convened a meeting with all candidates and their representatives for a discussion yesterday (09). Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake said the discussions had focused on activities related to the upcoming election. Election finance regulations and other guidelines were discussed with the candidates.
Ratnayake said the candidates and their representatives had been briefed on restrictions for door-to-door campaigning. Only up to five people were permitted to participate in distributing election leaflets.
In a separate meeting with election observers held later that afternoon, concerns were also raised regarding the misuse of state resources by the current President’s independent group during the campaign. Observers urged the EC to take “decisive action” to address these violations and maintain the “integrity of the election process,” according to EC sources.
Instances were cited where government vehicles, including those from the state-owned Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and the Air Force, had been used for election campaigning.
Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake said his group had documented 36 confirmed incidents of public property misuse. He cited the appointment of local council special representatives by provincial governors as particularly objectionable. Additionally, some government entities were distributing money.
Gajanayake also criticised ministries for engaging in political activities through their projects. He mentioned that the Ministry of Child Affairs and Women’s Affairs was attempting to establish approximately 20,000 women’s groups at the Divisional Secretariat level, but his group had alerted the EC and halted the initiative.
Executive Director of the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi said that while the election campaign had been peaceful, the voters must be aware of the unequal level of the field created by the misuse of state property.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
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Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
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