7 December, 2024

Blog

Intimidation Of Election Commission By Dayasiri Jayasekara & SLFP/SLPP

By S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole

Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole

The Financial Times kindly gave space to me to respond to Dayasiri Jayasekara. The article was titled “Dayasiri claims behaviour of EC member raises impartiality issues.”

In the FT issue of 13 May, 2020, it is said that the Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Sandanaya (SLNPS) –  the coalition including the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), through SLNPS National Organiser and SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara, speaking from the SLPP head office – strongly criticised the Elections Commission as partisan, and threatened to take action against some of its members when the new Parliament is convened. This is electoral thuggery at its worst.

In particular Jayasekara named me and accused me of levelling baseless allegations against his members in the north. He said SLNPS offices in the north were removed by the EC after I complained about them. However, he claimed, the offices of TNA were not removed. “We do not see any problem of TNA having an office in the north but the questionable move was why Hoole decided to remove only the SLNPS office in the north,” he added.

He is bluffing and bullying. The issue of offices being removed concerns Mr. Angajan Ramanathan’s office in the Kachcheri. He had it as a Coordinator’s Office but after Parliament was dissolved, he had to vacate. The order to vacate had nothing to do with me but the complaints came from many sources, including Jayasekera’s ally, the EPDP. EC neutrally is not about looking the other way when election laws are violated by anyone.

During election time, Angajan Ramanathan cannot use government property. There was no issue of removing TNA offices because the TNA was not unlawfully using government offices for electioneering. As a politician representing the people, it is important to be accurate in statements. Readers in judging Jayasekera’s charges against me must remember that according to the International Crisis Group, “Dayasiri Jayasekara, made a public intervention to arrange bail for several Sinhalese arrested for the rioting” following the 21 April 2019 massacres. 

Says an activist that witnesses place Dayasiri Jayasekera at the police station during curfew hours getting riotous thugs released on bail, and says that many Muslims who voted for him expressed astounding regret because of what they now regard as his anti-Muslim phobia.

And now Jayasekara threatens to remove me as an Election Commission Member for doing my work as soon as the elections are over? Recently Prof. G.L. Peiris has accused a member of the Election Commission of being a saboteur (Island, 2 March, coinciding with the dissolution of parliament). It seems that there are forces threatening EC Members with sacking if they do not obey these forces. EC Members’ work is, among other things, to prevent election cheating. 

For instance, Angajan Ramanathan’s followers have been diverting donations coming to the Jaffna Kachcheri for those adversely affected by the Pandemic. These are diverted by high Kachcheri Officials to Angajan Ramanathan. The above photo shows Angajan’s Vadamaraatchi Youth Front leader handing out these donated goods from the GS’s premises. The table stock-taking identity, KVD/J/350/04, shows the venue to be the GS’s office. The photo is from his Youth Front’s Facebook, but was removed as soon as the press got wind. When several complaints came to me about wrongfully diverted donations, I passed them on to the Commission. A high-level five-man inquiry team is in Jaffna now.

Now Angajan Ramanathan says he is sending me a letter of demand for Rs. 500 million for besmirching his “good name.” Good name? In the last LG elections, the Point Pedro Government clinic gave out medicines in sachets claiming to be from Angajan Ramanthan’s  Youth Front, the same one now claiming to give relief supplies. In that instance, no action was taken. There are confirmed stories about EPDP Yogeswary Patkunarajah the Mayoress of Jaffna being chased with a pistol from which several bullets were fired. This was during  the 2010 parliamentary elections. The case is ongoing. During the 2013 provincial elections, a close family member of his was charged with threatening TNA candidate Thambirasa using a pistol. That is also an ongoing police case. Jayasekera has strange bedfellows from thugs who attacked Muslims to those allegedly going about brandishing pistols at mayors of Jaffna.

In our society, talking about these well-known facts is considered being non-neutral. No wonder  horrible people get elected.

The message to us is clear: “This is all a game to project democracy. But we will cheat. If you stop us, we will remove you.” If the SLFP and SLPP are serious about democracy, they should stop their officials who threaten the EC when we do our work.

As for me, I will do my work, having accepted my appointment as EC Member. I hope Jayasekera’s colleagues in Parliament have the good sense not to remove EC members for doing their work. If they lack that good sense, I would rather leave my job than bow down to thugs.

Latest comments

  • 30
    3

    Good. As clear and unambiguous a statement as any you have made, Prof. Hoole.
    .
    You are doing this for the entire country, is the way I look at it.

    • 7
      35

      Mr. Sinhala_Man,
      .
      No.
      .
      This has nothing to do with country.
      .
      Prof. Hoole is lying and crying…..
      1. for minority Manipulaters.
      2. for his political sympathizers.
      .
      Same as “American Citizenship” drama.
      .

      • 3
        1

        Forget this fellow who said “Diske Awata Diskade”.

        • 0
          0

          Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam
          .
          Are you referring to “Disce Aut Discede” or something else..??

    • 20
      1

      Dear Prof. Hoole,

      thanks very much for your fearless articles. All these come in the need of the hour.
      .
      We owe that much to you Prof. Hoole – a few of your calibre could do lot more opening the eyes fo the masses that have now been caught by draconian duo.
      :
      At the time, you stood against LTTE terror, you were held as a hero, but today, very same men being rulers, shamelessly attack you just because yours or ours expose would not help them miseading the same audience further.

      Dayasiri Jayasekara has proved him to be cheap man again and again.I thought young politicians would see it right, but this guy DJ is a shame actually.. He has no principles at all. These men almost destroyed decent SLFP over the years.
      :

    • 12
      0

      Sinhala Man,

      The problem is even if true buddhism is believed to be that tolerant – BUDDHAGAMA followers would never tolerate anything.

      This gentleman was held as a hero at the time, he stood against LTTE brutalities, but today, him to be branded as KOTIYA – koti diasphora supporter or the like is made by that school drop out – Wimal Ballige putha Weerawanse. His rhetorics go viral regardless of factfulness of the message within easy targets.

      Imagine, that Sepal Amarasinghe – a YOUTUBER makes it clear popularity of WIMAL BURUWANSE in lanken socity is even going beyond that of a good actor. Meaning people dont care about the facts and figures, they just become fans of any low lives. …. the environment is made racals and uncultured personalities to get bread easily.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcX9_augDsQ

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARij1muv3Xg

      • 2
        0

        Thanks, leelagemalli, for your continuing faith in me. What so many of us, especially Prof. Hoole, are telling is the simple, plain truth to counter the distortions put about by those who don’t care what the real facts are. Please and see for yourself:
        .
        https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/droll-stories-of-gotas-lockdown/
        .
        This “Bagehot” fellow knows nothing of what really happened. You’ve got to be careful about this: Kumar David studied throughout in the Mt Lavina school, but he is a Marxist. He wouldn’t want to get involved in a rich man’s club. That goes for the whole country – avoid “niche problems”. I feel that it is possible to prove truths there, but few people follow up. “Bagehot” merely conjectures.
        .
        That includes the Kollupitiya School, where again he distorts. There’s no point my saying it here, it has to be there – but it looks as though you’ve not revisited that story. There’s more to add, and thankfully the CT moderators realise that I’m only countering points made by Bagehot unrelated to the topic of the article proper.
        .
        That’s a microcosm of National Politics. There no election whatsoever was held!

        • 2
          0

          Dear Mr SinhalaM,

          Not just Bagehot, but I am known to whole lot of in COlombo and southern province that would never see it right – their “taking for granted” life style is common in today s srilanka. To them, I am a NGO worker… they always shoot the messenger. That has lot to do with lanken culture.. they are not tolerant enough to change their attitudes, thinking patterns and respect the thoughts and minds of the others.

          This is common to many down there – no matter sometimes they are well accomplished and wearing academic titles. I respect that Dr Dewasiri to have called a spade a spade regarding this few years ago. He was one of the few – had balls to do so.

          Even my family down there, and their thinking patterns are no different to those of the average. Asked, as to why you would support Rajakashes WOULD be responded as they liberated the country…. they are not knolwedgeable enough to differentiate one from the other. Can a well recognized cancer doctor be a good politician without having any experience in the country where he was bornto ? Simple answer would be NO… likewise, Rajapakske may have given the leadership in his first term, but he should be the leader to govern our country beyond his terms. Besides, the loads of losses his mismgt created until 2015, made country the number one among the chinese debt trap countries. .. All these are not acceptable to commoners.. why ?

      • 2
        0

        Dear leelagemalli,

        about the Sepal Amarasinghe videos: being in Germany, I guess you know that Brecht’s messages are more complex than at first appears. You know that, obviously, because you know German – which was Brecht’s language.
        .
        I have studied and taught Brecht in English, but I have seen all the Henry Jayasena plays, and even met him. Also, I made full use of the “Wala” performances at Peradeniya. Both he and Sepal (and you) understand very well what Brecht’s aims were. Some readers may not. He wanted to provoke people into thinking – something that very few Sri Lankans do! We should not be taking anything at face value.

        • 0
          0

          This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.

          For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2

        • 0
          0

          Dear leelagemalli,
          .
          Thanks for whatever you tried to say. It’s been moderated out so I’m unaware of what it was.
          .
          It is very important that we appreciate how difficult a job the moderator also has. Just a handful of us are asserting what we know to be true, but then it also has to be relevant. If we stray too far, we are rightly moderated out.
          .
          I have been allowed to counter Bagehot’s distortions at great length. You may not fully understand the significance that I think attaches to the doings of certain persons. It ould make sense for you to indicate that you have read through it all, and posibly whether it makes sense or not.
          .
          The display of my email address has also been allowed. Thanks, CT. Everything that I say is true, and I have taken responsibility for what I have said by showing clearly who is saying it.

  • 17
    1

    He is barking for a minister post in the next regime by attacking the EC. This is criminal.

  • 5
    31

    Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole must resign from the election commission.
    .
    He has no moral right what so ever to stay in that position.
    .
    He…..
    Being a US citizen himself…..
    Being a dual citizen himself…..
    Knowing very well how to renounce a US citizenship…..
    Repeatedly accused GR of his citizenship status.
    .
    He shamelessly tried to use his position and status to block GR from contesting in the last presidential election to satisfy his fellow minority manipulators and political sympathizers.
    .
    And…..
    He shamelessly tried to discredit the new president by criticizing the election process which got him elected.
    .
    And…..
    Now he is trying to do whatever possible to…..
    Either….
    #…..cancel the due general election
    Or
    #…..cancel already accepted nominations
    Or
    #…..postpone the due general election
    .
    He is a shameless manipulator.

    • 4
      19

      “”Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen””
      .
      – 4: 25-27 & 29 Philippians.

      • 15
        2

        Sinkala Pasquali

        1) ”Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

        *** Coming from a Born Racist. Yes you are right members of one body . Gothas body.

        2) In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

        *** Man speak for yourself All moulded into one ANGER, SIN, DEVIL

        3) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen””

        *** The only thing that comes out of your mouth is Racist Filth.

    • 11
      1

      Mr.Pasqual
      Without lot of.verbose, can you answer specifically.
      You can not.you back.licker

      • 1
        7

        Mr. Dilshan,
        .
        Of course I can.
        But some idiots need long explanations.

    • 7
      1

      Sinkala Pasquali

      Tell Gotha the American CRIMINAL the following.

      Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole must resign from the election commission.
      .
      He has no moral right what so ever to stay in that position.
      .
      You
      Being a US citizen
      Not holding dual citizenship when appointed Defence Minister

      GR NOT Knowing how to renounce a US citizenship…..

    • 10
      1

      Why should he resign ?
      .
      If anyone out to three to resign, it should be MACO. Maco has broken all the rules sofar.
      His biased behaviour to SLPP is public secret.
      :
      Alone his posts via FB on ELECTION commissoin related issues are unethical… if the bugger or the like would have been in a commission of this nature in Europe, he would not have chance to escape from being jailed for ever.

  • 10
    3

    This Mudslinging by Gothas men is part and parcel of dirty politics. What else do you expect from GOSL under CRIMINAL

    • 5
      2

      Gotas men have fainted in the -satana- weekly discussion – not able to able to answer the questions based on as to why bps asked politicians to involve in distribution of that 5000 bucks to the people.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAC9FJmr37c
      .
      Gotas men have made every effort to hide their tails behind the rear legs when questioning as to why 10% aka Basil ballige putha became the lead of that distribution.

  • 3
    0

    The dissolved Parliament had numerous “Monkey Politicians” who jump from party to party for personal benefits. Dayasiri, Deal Dasa, SB, Dilan, Keheliya etc are supreme examples of these types of politicians. They are trying to be in the next Parliament as well. These are the politicians who want to direct the political future and the lives of the citizen of this country. What a shame!

    Its time each and every voter should evaluate carefully the candidates who will be appearing on the ballot sheet and ensure that the following are not elected to the next Parliament:

    – Those who have bribe, corruption, sexual assault, thuggery, drug related charges

    – Those who jumped from one party to another more than once.

    – Those who were actively involved in the “miriskudu event” in the Parliament.

    – Those who illegally act during the election campaign and on voting date

    – Those who used bad language (filth) in the Parliament

    – Those who have made racist comments

    • 1
      0

      Dear Mr Buddhist 1,
      .
      whatever we have been telling here would not have any value – like speaking with the deaf.
      :
      Unfortunately, the problem of the nation (Majority down there) is severe than appeared to be.
      They behave as if they are made fool as nothing can reverse them.
      I tried to collect my info also on FACE BOOK, immediately after you provide them with the facts and figures of current day situation, they shoot the messengers as usual. Most of them are so called buddhagama followers. I dont called them buddhists because the buddhism I learned in the daham school is far from the buddhagama practises seen in the country today.

      The situation down there is beyond any cure.
      With COVID crisis making poor countries even poorer, the future of our nation would be double hit. we could be happy, if leadership would have been clever.. Gota has now proved to be THOUSAND times stupidier than Sirisena:::: THIS REMINDS me ” ignuru dheela miris gaththa wage – in that point in time, the English caputred our island in 1815. “

  • 3
    1

    Professor Hoole,

    Are you selectively blind to ignore Mr Mavai Senathirajah, using the GS office to distribute goods? Mind you the candidate himself was present. Or the case might be that you are just too scared to go against your political masters who afforded you the job.

    Open your eyes please.

  • 0
    0

    Ratnajeewan Hoole,
    As a member of the Election Commission could you please insist that all the candidates who submitted nominations to submit affidavits confirming that they do not have dual citizenship. According to the Betel Vine, there are some who hold dual citizenship but hiding it cleverly.

    • 0
      0

      EE
      It is a sworn declaration that one makes. A false statement is a very serious offence.
      How reliable is your betel vine?
      It will help if you could name a few you know.

      • 2
        0

        Mr SJ,
        .
        I thought even Gotler sworn in kneeling down before Ruwanwalisaya – but what he has been doing today- is it constitutional ?

        And doctors and lawyers also take oaths before becoming docs and lawyer respectively.. but do they respect them at all ? Srilankens dont respect law and order… if the situation would have been in europe, not a single of GMOA men would ever be able to turn up in SIRASA or any other TV discourses.
        .
        A country filled with uncultured, uncivilized and loonies, what can we expect ?. Today with analysts becoming very negative about the near future of srilanka and its economy, rulers to go for printing out of currency notes ?
        .

  • 5
    1

    Thank you, Prof. Hoole, for your fearless work and for standing up to thugs.

    • 1
      0

      Prof. Hoole or the like fearless officals will be targeted by Rajapakshes supporters.
      :
      Look not a single word being uttered in the media against Mahinda Deshapriya – it is just almost everything in today s backdrop is premediated.
      :
      They have been well prepared to mitigate any other thoughts and minds which would HELP the average mind set of the nation. This is well planned. Stolen wealth is being abused to pump funds to those MEDIA owners.
      :’
      To me, main stream media in Srilanka are the worst – even going beyond Drug MAFIA.
      .
      We dont see any good voices being invited to so called TV discussions being held weekly in them – that is not fair actually. JVPrs are given no chances a t all. Now that Pasqual and Eagle Eye would come with their silly counter argumetns which would have no basis.

  • 0
    0

    So the dirty baton of political mafia has been passed from one to the other and the horrendous political culture continues ever since we gained independence. Person in the calibre of Professor Ratnajeevan Hoole a scientist and an extremely honest and transparent personality, a senior member of EC is not spared. We will never get such an erudite personality again. How can Angajan Ramanathan knows the value of a scientist, for him Prof Hoole is another human. These are the type of people in the likes minions national parties appoint to represent them. This is typical Sri Lanka politics in par with the countries in South East Asia. People still regard President Gotabaya Rajapakse as great leader, even under his stewardship good old days corrupted political dirty culture continues.

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