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Third international polls monitoring mission here

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The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) yesterday (11) launched its international expert election observation mission for the September 21 Presidential Election here. ANFREL deployed 10 observers, including two electoral analysts and a mission management team, across key areas of the country, the ANFREL said in a statement.

Earlier European Union and Commonwealth polls monitoring projects got underway.

The text of ANFREL press release: The 2024 Sri Lankan Presidential Election, scheduled for September 21, takes place at a critical juncture as the nation contends with economic instability, high inflation, and widespread public dissatisfaction. This election will play a pivotal role in shaping Sri Lanka’s political and economic future, with voters choosing among candidates who offer distinct visions for economic recovery and governance reforms.

Other significant issues at stake include the enforcement of Sri Lanka’s new campaign finance law, which aims to set expenditure limits, enhance transparency, and ensure financial accountability, as well as broader concerns related to ethnic relations, governance, and democratic reforms, especially in regions with minority populations.

Over the next 12 days, ANFREL observers deployed in seven of nine provinces, with a focus on 14 cities and their surrounding areas to provide a balanced observation of both urban and rural electoral practices, will engage with various electoral stakeholders and observe campaigning, voting and counting processes, and post-election activities.

In accordance with the Declaration of Principles and Code of Conduct for International Election Observation, ANFREL’s mission will uphold impartiality, objectivity, and integrity throughout the observation process.

The mission will thoroughly assess the conduct of the election, promoting international standards and best practices for free and fair elections. The mission will focus on five critical areas: the Constitutional and Legal Framework, the Campaign Environment, the Abuse of State Resources during Elections and Campaign Finance Law Compliance, Voter Engagement and Perception, and the Role of Media and Social Media.

ANFREL will release an interim report shortly after the election and publish a comprehensive final report upon the mission’s completion. Additionally, ANFREL will facilitate a post-election discussion on September 24, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Colombo time. Domestic and international observer groups will share their observations and findings, fostering a deeper understanding of the electoral process.

ANFREL hopes that the 2024 Presidential Election in Sri Lanka is conducted genuinely, with accountability, transparency, and inclusivity, truly reflecting the will of the people.”



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Cop who accepted Rs 3000 bribe nabbed by CIABOC

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A police officer attached to the  Raddolugama police station who accepted a bribe of Rs 3000/- from a motorist has been nabbed by officers attached to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on Monday (14) evening.

It is alleged that the police officer demanded Rs 3000/- from the motorist to return his driving licence without prosecuting him for a traffic offence.

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GMOA swings into action on Vithana’s disclosure of MPs’ salaries, etc.

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MP Vithana / Dr. Sugathadasa

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has sought an explanation from Parliament regarding how PAYE (Pay As You Earn) is applied to parliamentarians.

GMOA Secretary Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa has written to the Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Information was sought on 09 July, 2025, in the wake of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Kalutara district parliamentarian Jagath Vithana posting his pay sheets from January to May this year on his Facebook.

In addition to information on PAYE, the GMOA has posed a number of other questions to the Secretary General regarding the parliamentarians’ salary as well as pensions.

Parliament passed the RTI Act on 24 June, 2016, and it came into effect on 03 February, 2017. This act, introduced through the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, in 2015, is meant to promote transparency and accountability in government.

New controversy has erupted in the wake of Nawa Janatha Peramuna lodging a complaint with the CIABOC seeking an investigation into Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne abusing public property, a claim denied by the Secretary General of Parliament.

According to Vithana’s May pay sheet, his monthly allowance is Rs. 54,285, entertainment allowance Rs 1,000, telephone allowance Rs 50,000, sitting allowance Rs 5,000, office allowance Rs 100,000, fuel allowance Rs 97,428.92 and transport allowance Rs. 15,000. His take home pay is Rs 317, 760.92 after the deduction of Rs 1,200 for catering, stamp duty Rs. 25 and Advance Personal Income Tax (APIT).

Asked whether he regretted the releasing of pay sheets, lawmaker Vithana told The Island that in the run-up to the last parliamentary elections, held in November 2024, he had promised the Kalutara electorate he wouldn’t draw his salary. The MP said that however, he later felt the salary should be accepted and used in support of public welfare projects undertaken by him. “Therefore, the money was used appropriately,” he said, adding that both the government and Opposition MPs reacted with resentment. “I feel sort of isolated in Parliament. Hardly anyone talks to me,” MP Vithana said.

Dr. Sugathadasa said that having perused the pay sheets posted online, the GMOA had felt the urgent need to seek a clarification from Parliament as the lawmakers appeared to have received special status. The top GMOA official emphasised they wanted to establish the truth and used the RTI law to obtain information regarding the MPs’ salaries, pensions and other related information. “The GMOA made the request on 09 July, 2025. We are confident the Parliament will answer our queries,” Dr. Sugathadasa said.

Parliament meets only eight days a month. Attendance is not compulsory and there is no fixed time for lawmakers to attend sittings. Over the years, sittings have been suspended for lack of quorum.

The Island asked the GMOA official whether they would seek the intervention of the RTI Commission in case the Parliament declined to reveal the information sought by them. Dr. Sugathadasa said that the Executive Committee of the GMOA would decide the course of action if Parliament withheld information.

A few years ago Chamara Sampath, of Wijeya Newspapers, successfully moved the Court of Appeal against the Parliament after the latter refused to disclose names of Members of Parliament (MPs) who had handed over their respective declarations of assets and liabilities in 2018 and list of names of MPs who have handed over their Declarations from 2010 to the time he made the request (21 June, 2018).

The Court on 28 February, 2023, reaffirmed the RTI Commission’s stand that Declarations of Assets and Liabilities Law of 1975 (DALL) didn’t prevail over the Right to Information Act no. 12 of 2016 (RTI Act).

According to the Parliament website, an MP is paid Rs. 54,285, entertainment allowance Rs 1,000, driver’s allowance Rs 3,500 (only if driver is not provided by government). Fuel allowances are paid based on the distance from Parliament to the electoral district which each MP was elected and the approved market price of one litre of diesel on the first day of every month, telephone allowance Rs 50,000, transport allowance for personal staff Rs 10,000, and stamps worth Rs 350,000 issued to each MP annually.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

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Udaya alleges Prez hasn’t given up efforts to bring in outsider as AG

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Sri Lanka Educator Service Lecturers’ Trade Union yesterday (14) protested outside the Education Ministry, demanding that the government address their grievances. (Pic by Nishan S. Priyantha)

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader and former Minister Udaya Gammanpila says President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has delayed making a permanent appointment to the post of Auditor General in a bid to bring in an outsider early next year.

Addressing the media yesterday (14), Attorney-at-Law Gammanpila said that three civil society members of the Constitutional Council, who opposed the President’s move, would be completing their term in early January next year. Instead of appointing Dharmapala Gammanpila as the Auditor General, the President had given him only an extension in service so as to get rid of him at the first available opportunity and bring in his crony from the Kelaniya University.

The former lawmaker said that the success of the President’s plan depended on the appointment of pliant civil society members to the CC, ready to help advance the NPP’s agenda.

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