Opposition has no faith in election process: Karu

Thursday, 22 August 2013 00:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The lack of independent commissions and rampant politicisation of the elections process has eroded Opposition confidence in the ability of the State to conduct a free and fair election, UNP Gampaha District MP Karu Jayasuriya said yesterday.

Jayasuriya said that anti democratic trends that have characterised elections in the country over the last five years are apparent to the country again as the provincial polls draw near. “It is unavoidable that there will be a political colouring of the appointments made without an independent legislature and apolitical commissions in place. The Opposition has no faith in the manner the elections are conducted. We reiterate the necessity of establishing an independent Elections Commission before conducting elections. The Government and the President ignored this request throughout,” Jayasuriya charged. He said that with the repeal of the 17th Amendment and under the 18th Amendment, independent appointments will never materialise. Jayasuriya warned that with the Government getting ready to host a major Commonwealth Summit, it was crucial that a free and fair election in held in the three provinces, since the Commonwealth places such emphasis on electoral democracy. “We have to remind the authorities that it is a just delusion if they try to show to the world that the public opinion is in their favour without conducting a free and fair election,” he explained. “The time has come to stop the journey toward dictatorship, rendering the country into anarchy by departure from democracy,” Jayasuriya charged. The UNP MP said that the Government was engaging in a massive abuse of State resources ahead of the elections. “There is excessive use of state vehicles and helicopters. Although the payments have to be made for unofficial travel, it is not being carried out. We see official bungalows of the Government and the State mansions of nobles are publicly used for political work and public funds are being used for various banquets held for political reasons,” he revealed.