26 April, 2024

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Lawyers Urge Public Servants To Maintain Autonomy In Performing Poll Duties

A group of senior legal practitioners have called upon state sector officials to maintain their independence when engaging in duties related to the upcoming polls, since one candidate who is also the incumbent head of state is unlawfully engaging in electioneering at the expense of the masses.

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya

In a statement,the Conveners of the Lawyers Collective (LC)  JC Weliamuna, Lal Wijenayake and Chandrapala Kumarage have pointed a most recent example of attempts to ‘treat’ public servants, where Chief Accounting Officials of District Secretariats who are due to serve as Chief Counting officers during the upcoming elections, have been summoned together with Chief Clerks for an unscheduled meeting with the President after which they are due to be sent to Malaysia on a five-day trip at public expenses.

The legal practitioners have expressed shock at the level of election law violations that have been and are being committed by the UPFA to which includes misuse of state property, police and defense establishment, bribery and ‘treating’ of electioneers including public servants.

They have pointed to that both the Secretaries to the Ministry of Law and Order and Defense are actively campaigning for President Rajapaksa apart from deploying the Police and the military to aid his election campaigning activities.

In the statement, the lawyers have also criticized the total lack of accountability in the costs of events held at the Temple Trees to ‘treat’ public servants, of which the expenses have to be borne by the public.

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Latest comments

  • 3
    0

    Anyone who knows Sunanda Deshapriya – who led the biggest media watch dog FMM in Sri Lanka for quite a long period – also knows that the way he let it down..!!? I mean ..he made it naked by his boot licking policy towards politicians in power. He openly supported Chandrika against the will of his fellow comrades(Majority) and brought the dignity of the organization to it’s knee.

    Further he robbed millions from the Organization and vanished from Sri Lanka – using the opportunity of war.

    Now the pathetic public expects wonders from his brother Mahinda Deshapriya !!? mmmm….what could I say !!?

    • 0
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      His brother Mahinda Deshapriya is just another clown in MR’s circus , for havens sake he needs to get rid of that stupid smile from his face and needs to dress appropriately ! this clown smiles after every two, three words just like an idiot , Oyiee Mr Deshapriya it’s time to be bloody serious on the job now,so get on with it !

      • 1
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        Srilal@,

        You are dead right Srilal- when EC opens his mouths – i feel PETHTHAPPU BATH KEWADA like… so he is one another parrot working for DESPOT. Peththappu no i is police spokesperson Ajith Rohana.

        what made any silly president to appoint close ones to him for these posts knowing the consequences ? He may be thought people would stay fool forever.
        The man in power should be a born fool to have made such decisions.
        Entire world is pointing the fingers at the lanken adminstiration today. The most silliest leader we ever produced though his term succeeded elemination of terror within the island has become laughing stock.

        Now they the rulers claims that there are many ministers within them seen to be away from support to MR campaign…. now it reveals…
        the days ahead of us we will see how would remain with the bugger Rajitha Senaratne is FULLY right – not even few would remain to cuddle him

        • 1
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          Leelagemalli ,

          This is a seasaw battle up to the very last minute , opposition needs to have good orators (crowd pullers i.e Rajitha S , Patali C, Rathana Thero ,CBK, Harin, Hirunika et al) at their rallies and in TV interviews , they should concentrate more on rural voters than the urban dwellers.

      • 1
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        Hi Friend Srilal@,

        do you have any idea what that Athathi Ratna (former EC) has been kept ? Like the case for KP and other terror men, despotic rulers may be keeping Ratne also in Araiya gaha mandiraya for such a long time to cover all jilmarts and the secrets ?

        • 1
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          Hi Samuel Bandara ,

          i’m afraid , i’ve no idea where that Athathi ratna is ,but where ever he lives , he may go to bed every single night as a dejected man, knowing fully well that he let down 20 Million people.i personally feel Mr Aththathi ratna is some what better than our current comedian , at least Mr AR tried to protect the ballot box , but this clown ?????

  • 0
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    The public servants should perform their functions without fear or favour in accordance with the laws of the land. They should not fear the politicians and act without bias towards anyone. They are paid from publiccoffers and not by politicians from their pockets.

    • 0
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      These lawyers do pay taxes, and quite a lot too. They sure can from the Rs 500,000 each and every time they have to advice a client (Is that the right term?). The public servants should know their places.

  • 1
    1

    On whose side are you Mr.ELECTION COMMISSIONER?

    • 0
      1

      Mahinda Rajapaksa. Mr. Election Commissioner received the bribe from the MR.

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