By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Elections Commission (EC) has taken a very lukewarm approach in respec of the next presidential election, Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES), fea, alleged yesterday.

Gajanayake said that a few days back the EC had sent a letter to state institutions asking them to make preparations for the presidential election in the coming months, only after the Opposition parties and elections monitors urged it to reveal its stand on the presidential election.

“This letter was sent after Opposition parties and election commissioners urged the Commission. Even then, they only sent a letter. The Commission would have been more proactive. For example, a spokesperson for the Commission would have made a public statement. I am glad that the Commission has sent this letter at last, but these letters are not enough. The government has a history of ignoring them,” he said.

Gajanayake added that the President has appointed several provincial governors in recent times. These posts have been either given to his loyalists or to those whose favours Wickremesinghe wants to curry, he said. These governors and other political appointments made by the President are influencing state officials at provincial and local council level.

“Out of the nine governors, five are politicians who have lost elections. They are doing things to promote a candidate. The Commission must summon these governors before the Commission and ask them to stop such deliberate interference. Of course the Commission has sent some letters, but we all know the governors have been ignoring them,” he said.

Gajanayake also said that Sri Lankan political parties have a tradition of abusing the law to postpone elections. The fundamental rights petition filed by a businessman restraining the Election Commission from taking any further steps to conduct the Presidential Election in 2024 is obviously a bid to delay the elections for a few months.

He said that the petitioner Chamindra Dayan Lenawa did not go before courts, actually expecting the Supreme Court to postpone the election for another year or two.

“There is no case here. The Supreme Court will not declare that the tenure of Ranil Wickremesinghe should not go beyond 2024. Moreover, the court does not take a lot of time deliberating cases like this. The Constitution has also clearly stated when presidential elections should be held.”

Gajanayake said the Election Commission can declare the Presidential Election any day after 17 July. When this case is heard, the Commission might wait until the Supreme Court gives its determination.

“This will give more time for the President to distribute land. This is why we believe that the Commission must be more proactive.”