“UNP challenges Govt. to prove it can win elections lawfully by implementing 17th amendment”

(October 08, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Addressing a press briefing today (8), UNP M.P. Gayantha Karunatilleke challenged the Government which has been elected by the people lawfully to act lawfully and abide by the laws of the constitution and the country to show that it can win elections lawfully by implementing the 17th amendment which will permit the Elections Commissioner to exercise his powers duly , against the Govt. candidates who are openly violating the election laws every minute of the day from the moment nominations were handed over.

If the independent Commissions are appointed under the 17th amendment , the Elections Commission , the Police Commission , the Public service Commission and others exist , Govt. cannot resort to these dastardly activities , he pinpointed. An OIC of Weligama was transferred suddenly a day ago over a political issue when he tried to stop a bhaila party following a UPFA election rally which went on after 10.00 p.m. against the law. The Elections Commissioner cannot take action against this unlawful act of the IGP who transferred the Officer because the Govt. has obstructed the implementation of he 17th amendment . Indeed , the Elections Commissioner was so disgusted over the issue ,he remarked that the IGP does not know the basics of election laws.

For the first time in the Sri Lnaka history , a private Broadcasting station is full time broadcasting and advertising a PA candidate election campaign breaking the election laws . No one is unable to take action against this .

When the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe attended a rally at Elpitiya , all CTB buses which the public could use to come to the meeting were withdrawn. But , for the meeting attended by the President at Galle , over 400 buses from Depots across the entire Island transported people for the meeting . These kinds of unlawful activities cannot take place if the Govt. respects the law abiding people and the laws of the country. By winning elections unlawfully right along , the Govt. has found the easy method of winning by non implementation of laws and non adherence of the constitution.

-Sri Lanka Guardian