PPPR exposes misuse of State-owned residences

Program for Protection of Public Resources (PPPR), the election monitoring arm of Transparency International Sri Lanka, has recorded a large number of violations pertaining to the misuse of public resources carried out by candidates in the Ampara District belonging to both the United National Front and the United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance

Following the submission of nominations, these candidates have converted their official residences to party offices and have used them for various campaigning purposes, the PPPR stated in a complaint to Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya. 

The Ampara District Secretariat, the Ampara Department of Irrigation and the Ampara Higurana Sugar Factory are examples of some of the Government offices that have been used for electioneering. 

Below is the full text of the report:

P. Dayaratne, election candidate from the Ampara District representing the United National Front, is currently using the residence (B8) belonging to the Ampara District Secretariat for campaigning purposes. We have observed an election office being run within these premises.  

In addition to this UPFA election candidate Shriyani Wijewickrama is currently utilising a residence belonging to Department of Irrigation as an election office. This premises is located opposite her official residence in the Parakramabahu Mawatha. Photographic evidence confirming the above is attached herewith.

Furthermore, UPFA election candidate for the Ampara District Sarath Weerasekara is currently using a residence (C7) belonging to the District Secretariat for campaigning purposes. Photographic evidence confirming the above is attached herewith.

Indika Nalin, the ex-Governor of the Ampara District and the current UPFA election candidate to the district, is currently using the official residence allocated to the District Secretary for his campaigning purposes. Photographic evidence confirming the above is attached herewith.

Daya Gamage, UPF candidate to the Ampara District, is currently using an official residence (A03) belonging to the District Secretariat for his campaigning purposes. Even though Gamage has been asked to evacuate the premises, campaigning activities in the premises are still ongoing. Photographic evidence confirming the above is attached herewith.

The UPFA election candidate to the Ampara District Wimalaweera Disanayake is currently using the residence (C3) belonging to the Higurana Galoya Sugar factory for campaigning purposes.

In addition to this, UPFA election candidate Mohamed Athaulla is currently using a residence belonging to the Ampara District Secretary for campaigning purposes.

The use of State-owned premises for personal campaigning purposes is a misuse of public resources. We urge you to look into this matter and to take the needed steps to revert these back to State use and ownership.