Sri Lanka’s main opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has questioned the National Election Commission’s lack of equal action concerning propaganda activities ahead of the Presidential Election.
In a letter to the Election Commission Chairman, the SJB revealed that the Commission had requested the party to halt all its donation programmes, such as Sakwala for school smart classrooms and Husma for the Health Sector, identifying them as possible election propaganda activities.
The SJB questioned why the same restriction had not been placed on the government for its ‘Jayagamu Sri Lanka’ programme conducted by the Foreign Employment Ministry and the ‘Urumaya’ programme conducted by the Ministry of Lands.
The Opposition party also informed that it had occasionally brought to the attention of the Election Commission the use of state resources for several activities of the government.
Reminding that there must be equal opportunity for all candidates contesting the upcoming Presidential election, the SJB said while halting its donation programmes, measures must also be taken to suspend similar government programmes. (Newswire)
