EC orders inquiry against GMOA President Padeniya

 Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and presidential aspirant his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa greet each other as Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya looks on at the launch of Gotabaya’s manifesto on Friday in Colombo - Pic by Lahiru Harshana

• Directs Health Min. Sec. to call for explanation
• Padeniya seen at SLPP candidate’s manifesto launch
• Public officials barred from attending political events

The Election Commission has written to the Secretary to the Ministry of Health asking him to hold an inquiry into how the President of the Government Medical officers’ Association (GMOA) Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya participated in a political event of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

An Election Commission source said that Padeniya, as a serving government officer, is barred from participating in political events.

“The Secretary to the Health Ministry has been directed to call for explanation from Dr. Padeniya and send a report promptly to the EC,” the source said.

Padeniya was seen in a front-row seat at the launch of the manifesto of SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday.

Under the directions issued by the EC, public officers and their time are deemed to be State property and hence they are prohibited from engaging in in any activity to promote any party or candidate inside or outside the office premises within the prescribed office hours, after reporting to work or while on duty leave.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) requested the EC to reconsider the deployment of GMOA members for election duties on the day of the election as its Chairman was engaged in the direct promotion of the SLPP candidate.