EC officials walk into Wimal Weerawansa’s event

By Charumini de Silva

Election Commission (EC) officials and Police yesterday walked into a micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) program organised by subject Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

At the outset of the launch of the national study titled ‘Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on MSMEs in Sri Lanka’, he was alluding to the backdrop which had COVID-19, coincidently his Preference Vote number for the upcoming General Election.

“I do not know if the backdrop which refers to COVID-19 will upset the EC officials over violating election laws and the media friends would have to blur it in their broadcast. It is just alluding to the pandemic term and not to my candidate number for the upcoming General Elections which is also 19,” the Minister quipped.

However, towards the end of the program when Minister Weerawansa was taking up issues faced by the MSMEs impacted by COVID-19, he acknowledged the arrival of EC officials and Police to inspect if he was using the platform for canvassing. 

“I would like to let you all know that there are some officials from the EC and Police to see if I am conducting any election propaganda at this program. I would like to invite all of them also into this important public dialogue to understand the gravity of the issues faced by the country owing to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

Pic by Ruwan Walpola