Vehicles with garage numbers used for campaigning in Chilaw

Police ignore EC’s directives

( August 15, 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) has written to the Commissioner of Elections today (August 15) informing about the use of vehicles with garage numbers in Chilaw. It has also expressed its dismay at Police ignoring directives of the Commissioner of Elections.

CaFFE notified the Commissioner yesterday around 4.13 pm that United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Provincial Council candidate for Puttalam District, Sanath Nishantha used vehicles with garage numbers near Chilaw bus stand. Although the Commissioner had asked a senior police official to take action regarding the vehicles, CaFFE learnt that the police took no action against Nishantha for violating election laws and the motor traffic act.

“Police did not even warn Nishantha about the illegal display of party symbol, display of preferential numbers and the use of vehicles with garage numbers. Nishantha is the only candidate who is using six or more vehicles with garage numbers in Puttalam,” said CaFFE Executive Director, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon.

Attached herewith are the vehicles photographed at 4.03 pm (Black coloured Defender Jeep,) 5.29 (White Jeep) and 5.25 (White Nissan vehicle) and images of policemen looking on. These photos were taken during a UPFA meeting in Chilaw bus stand, top police officials in the area provided security for the meeting.