COLOMBO: The National Movement for Social Justice headed by former speaker Karu Jayasuriya has urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to hold the proposed provincial council elections in a fair and independence manner.
During a press conference held at the Hotel Janaki on Thursday, March 18, Jayasuriya said : “ We believe there are two essential things that need to be completed before a provincial election or any other election can take place. The first is to establish an appropriate mechanism for holding free, peaceful and fair elections. The independence of the Election Commission must be ensured.”
“Expectations of a free and fair election cannot be expected from the Election Commission that has been appointed so far. A fair election can never be expected from an Election Commission consisting of top officials who still had direct links with the political machinery of government. It is not the people who will gain their allegiance at a crucial moment but their political masters. Therefore, the independence of the Election Commission must be ensured before any election is declared.”
“It is also reported that the government has an idea to hold sporadic elections to gain more benefits for the present government as has been done in the past. That should never happen. The report of the Presidential Commission on Political Revenge should be thrown in the trash. No matter how weak the government is, it should not provide jokes to the people. Under such circumstances the country would be ridiculed.”
Jayasuriya also pointed out an incident that the police have questioned a girl who participated in the Lakshapathi programme aired on Sirasa TV recently.” The reason she is being questioned is because she had mentioned about the environmental destruction taking place in the area where she lives.”
“The operation depicts an operation by Hitler’s Nazi Gestapo in the 1940s. It is a stern warning to the people of this country. The ultimate responsibility for this action rests with the President.”
“ If a journalist or an ordinary girl is harassed just for criticizing, it is a situation that should be severely condemned. In fact, the police or wildlife officers or the Grama Niladhari should have listened to what she had to say. They should have worked to find out about the issues she raised without harassing her. The police should not do that. The IGP must act immediately to protect the dignity and honor of the police,” he concluded.
