By Rathindra Kuruwita
Chairman of the Election Commission (EC), R.M.A.L. Ratnayake yesterday (15) urged all candidates contesting the 21 September presidential election to follow election laws as the violation thereof is a punishable offence. He warned that the offenders would face disqualification.
Addressing the 39 candidates who signed nomination papers, the EC Chairman said human and physical resources of state institutions, including state owned banks, local and provincial councils must not be used for electioneering.
The EC Chief said the candidates had to ensure that their supporters behaved within the confines of the law. Candidates must make their supporters behave because the misbehavior of your associates could cost you your civic rights, he said.
Talking to the media, after signing the nomination papers, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that 39 candidates and their supporters had arrived at the EC on Thursday. “This was possible because I have solved the most basic of problems.”
Opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa said a future SJB administration would safeguard the democratic rights of the citizenry.
“We wont postpone elections and will strengthen civil and political rights. We will also come up with a new Constitution that guarantees economic, social,
cultural, religious, educational and health rights.”
Meanwhile, National Peoples Power (NPP) candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said that the country finally had a chance to have fresh start. “There is a lot of talk on a digital and a smart economy, but our politics is dirty. We must cleanse our political culture first,” he said.
