News
TISL begins monitoring work on March 09 LG polls
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) yesterday (14) commenced its election monitoring programme, which will deploy election observers across the country to monitor the use of public resources for campaign purposes and campaign finance during the upcoming Local Government Election scheduled to take place on March 09.
As it has done since 2005, TISL has deployed 25 District Electoral Observers who will work with 160 additional observers working at the electorate level, for the purpose, the group said in a statement issued yesterday.
TISL announced its hotlines 076 322 344 2 and 076 322 366 2 and urged the public to report instances of the use of public resources for campaign purposes via direct calls or WhatsApp, if they see state owned buildings, vehicles, public officials, or government projects etc., being used for election campaigning purposes.
TISL’s website www.apesalli.lk is also open to public complaints in Sinhala, Tamil, or English, attaching the relevant evidence. Complaints can also be made through the Apesalli mobile application available for downloading at the Play Store and App store. When such a complaint is received, TISL compiles all evidence, verifies the information, and submits it to the Election Commission of Sri Lanka for further action.
Nadishani Perera, Executive Director of TISL stated: “The use of public resources for campaign purposes would constitute an abuse of public resources, amounting to corruption and should be dealt with seriously. We also urge all political parties, candidates, and independent groups to fulfill their legal obligations on reporting and be transparent regarding political campaign financing at the upcoming local government election.”
The purpose of a campaign financing law is to prevent undue influence on parties and candidates by wealthy donors, and to reduce excessive and illegal spending on elections, including by means such as the misuse of public funds and vote-buying. This election will be the first to be held after the enactment of the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act earlier this year. As an organisation committed to the eradication of corruption and the preservation of electoral integrity in Sri Lanka, TISL will observe the effectiveness of this new law.
TISL appeals to all citizens to actively make any credible complaints regarding the use of public resources for campaign purposes to TISL, to ensure that the integrity of the upcoming election is maintained.
NPP Parliamentarian Asoka Ranwala who was appointed the 22nd Speaker of Sri Lanka’s Parliament, on 21st November has resigned from his position today [13], in the wake of the controversy surrounding his educational qualifications.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has officially appointed members to the Port City Economic Commission.
Accordingly Harsha Amarasekera, President’s Counsel, has been appointed as the Chairman while Damien Amal Cabraal, Mohan Ray Abeywardena, Sanjaya Kulatunga, and Dr. Harsha Subasinghe were appointed as members of the Port City Economic Commission
The official letters of appointment were handed over to the members by the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (13).
“We will not allow the trust the people have placed in us to be undermined in any way,” stated President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a meeting with the heads of state media today (13).
He further emphasised, “Regardless of their status in government, if mistakes are made, we will not hesitate to take appropriate action.”
The President further explained:
“For more than seven decades, the people of this nation have built and dismantled various governments. For the first time, we stand with a profound understanding of the historic mandate entrusted to us and the National People’s Power on two occasions.
The people placed their faith in the National People’s Power (NPP) government, hoping for a standardised and stable country. We will not tarnish that extraordinary trust, even by the slightest misconduct.
Simply put, our government is not here to shield anyone who errs, for any reason. Be it within the broader framework of the country or within our administration, anyone found guilty of wrongdoing will face consequences. We will not hesitate to act decisively and at the right time. In essence, our government will not shield anyone who makes a mistake, regardless of the reason. Whether the mistake occurs within the country or at any level within our government, we will not hesitate to take decisive action. Every necessary step will be taken at the appropriate time without delay.”
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also reaffirmed his government’s unwavering commitment to upholding the trust placed in them by the people, who have endured decades of deception. He pledged to work tirelessly to build a better nation.
The Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, Director-General of Government Information, Harsha Bandara, and the heads of state media were present at the meeting.
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