“The official documents strongly prove that government’s claim that there was no money for the election was false. We are submitting this information to the case that has already been filed against the anti-democratic and fraudulent postponement of elections. Also, we will file another case in the Supreme Court next week. We will prove that the government’s claim that there is no money for the election is a complete lie.
It is proved with evidence that all the materials including ink and paper needed for the printing of ballot papers in the printing department were in stock and money was available. Because of this, neither the Press Secretary nor the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance can escape from this,” said Information Secretary of the JVP Comrade Vijitha Herath.
He said this at a press conference held at the JVP head office at Pelawaththa yesterday (5th).
He said, “This government, which bankrupted the country’s economy, postponed the local government elections that were scheduled for March 9th without any acceptable reason. Although the election commission announced the date of holding the re-election on April 25, it has been postponed indefinitely. The distorted Parliament, which has no mandate and the President who also doesn’t have a mandate is suppressing the provincial councils and local government institutions.
By appointing new governors, and saying no party can get more than 50% of the votes, the president who has no mandate is telling jokes and taking away the basic rights of the people. The story that there is no money for elections is completely false. We have fully investigated the matter under Freedom of Information Act.
In a letter sent to the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, the Election Commission has requested to provide the relevant money in parts. Rs. 1100 million has been requested before April 17th in installments to be given Rs. 100 million Before March 14, , another 100 million before March 21st, etc.. The money spent on the police department, postal department and printing house was also requested in parts. The total amount requested to hold the election on April 25 was Rs. 2400 million. On March 07, the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance had informed the Election Commission in writing that the Finance Minister had been informed in this regard.
But this money has not been given till today. But according to the ‘cash in hand’ report officially released by the Treasury Department, in January An income of Rs. 177900 has been received. Government institutions have been paid Rs. 156760. In January There is a saving of Rs.2141o million. In February Rs. 271750 million has been received and Rs. 208620 million has been spent.
By February 28, Rs. 63130 has been left. Rs. It has been admitted in an official document signed by the Treasury Deputy Secretary Mr. Seneviratne that Rs. 84270 million has been left in both these months. But the Election Commission had asked for only Rs. 2469 million to conduct the election.
The official documents strongly prove that government’s claim that there was no money for the election was false. We are submitting this information to the case that has already been filed against the anti-democratic and fraudulent postponement of elections. Also, we will file another case in the Supreme Court next week. We will prove that the government’s claim that there is no money for the election is a complete lie.
It is proved with evidence that all the materials including ink and paper needed for the printing of ballot papers in the printing department were in stock and money was available. Because of this, neither the Press Secretary nor the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance can escape from this.
The President without a mandate is appointing people to various positions and the Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has issued a very serious illegal circular on the 9th of May. As the Minister of Public Administration, through the Secretary of the Ministry, he has sent a letter to the Provincial Chief Secretaries to appoint those who work as the chairmen of the Coordination Committees of the Divisional Secretariats as the Supervisory Officers of the respective Local Government Institutions. This means that the Chairpersons of the Coordinating Committees could appoint persons of their choice as supervisory officers of the respective local government bodies.
Already, some coordination committee chairpersons are exerting various pressures on the secretaries of local government bodies by phone. The former chairman of the local government has been pressured to hand over the keys of the vehicles. Former presidents and mayors are people who now have no power or rights. Rosy Senanayake no longer has any power as the former mayor of Colombo. But now this order is to give authority to supervise this institution as the former mayor.
A process of handing over power to a group of people who currently do not have a mandate has been illegally launched in the local government bodies of the entire country by a President who himself doesn’t have a vote base. Only newly elected presidents or mayors have the power to supervise such institutions. What is going to be done now is to illegally appoint the people who were sent home by the people without voting for them to the office of chairman.
People should rally against this. In a background where an election has not been held and local government bodies have not been properly established, the power is vested only in the commissioner or the local government secretary. Apart from this, we will take legal action against the action taken by the government and request the people not to allow such activities of people who are not public representatives.
We demand that the election commission be given the relevant money to conduct the election immediately. Also, we emphasize that we are ready to work for the local government election or any other election as scheduled at this moment. Also, by giving us more than 50% vote the people of this country will prove in an election that they are ready to change the corrupt system of governance that protects the corrupt. The government will be forced to allow to chose a government of their choice which will o implement an economic programme that will build this country. Also, the Election Commission is urged to act for the proper conduct of the election.”