"Govt. trying to secure by false propaganda what it cannot in substance"

(January 19, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) UNP M.P. Lakshman Kiriella , addressing the media at the UNP media center today (19 Jan) , said the Govt. prior to the up coming provincial Council elections is so desperate that it is trying out false propaganda using its media sources. As it is aware that it is going to face sure defeat in the Central province election it is carrying on false news bulletins that UNP ers are crossing over to the Govt.. He cited one recent incident , where the State media reported that 5000 UNPers have crossed over to the PA with pictures of processions. In truth , all those in the procession were PA supporters but wearing green caps to camouflage the truth. Of course, there was one solitary individual leading the group who was an erstwhile UNPer discarded by the UNP six years ago, he pinpointed.

Is Sarath Ekanayake or the President who is the nominated UPFA candidate for the Central province elections?, he asked . As the President himself is directly stooping to all kinds of treacheries and election law violations to win the elections , this question is being widely asked, he observed.

The President is not implementing the 17th amendment and appointing the Elections Commission because, if they come into existence , the President will be barred from such open and brazen violations of the election laws .Under the election laws , during the election period no appointments , no inducements, no State assets and no threats can be offered .Neither can State assets be used for election work. Yet , the Govt. is indulging in every possible act of violation . It is distributing lunch packets , giving appointments , using State assets with impunity because the Elections Commission is not appointed by the Govt. he noted.

He also explained how the parking area of two acres of land belonging to the Kandy Municipal Council built at a cost of Rs. 700 million has been taken over and given to a Mudalali even without the MC being consulted. So monumental is the lawlessness in the country, he regretted . What is worse is the very Govt. elected to govern the country observing the rule of law is deliberately trampling it and fomenting a lawless and goon culture, he concluded. - Sri Lanka Guardian