EC orders halt to SLTB workers engaging in election campaigning

Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya has informed the Secretary of the Internal Transport Ministry and Chairman to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) to immediately halt the use of SLTB employees for various campaigning activities of political candidates and parties.

The Election Commissioner took this course of action based on a complaint made by Transparency International Sri Lanka following their monitoring activities.

The complaints noted that employees from a range of depots from areas including Maharagama, Moratuwa, Katubedda and Kesbewa were used for election campaigning activities after they had reported for duty. Additionally, employees belonging to depots from the Uva Province and the Kurunegala and Kegalle districts had been used for campaigning activities of the United National Party.

The Election Commissioner informed the Secretary that the misuse of public officials and resources is a violation of the election law, the provisions made under the 19th Amendment and also the state controlling regulations. Furthermore, the letter urged the depot managers and the provincial control authorities under the Sri Lanka Transport Board to take immediate action to halt the above mentioned violations.