By Rathindra Kuruwita

Some presidential candidates and their representatives yesterday raised concerns with the Election Commission (EC) about the misuse of state resources and the conduct of certain public officials in relation to the 2024 presidential election.

They said that the President’s Media Division, the Cabinet office and other state institutions were violating guidelines given by the Elections Commission and they had put other contestants at a disadvantage.

The EC convened a meeting with all candidates and their representatives for a discussion yesterday (09). Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake said the discussions had focused on activities related to the upcoming election. Election finance regulations and other guidelines were discussed with the candidates.

Ratnayake said the candidates and their representatives had been briefed on restrictions for door-to-door campaigning. Only up to five people were permitted to participate in distributing election leaflets.

In a separate meeting with election observers held later that afternoon, concerns were also raised regarding the misuse of state resources by the current President’s independent group during the campaign. Observers urged the EC to take “decisive action” to address these violations and maintain the “integrity of the election process,” according to EC sources.

Instances were cited where government vehicles, including those from the state-owned Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and the Air Force, had been used for election campaigning.

Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake said his group had documented 36 confirmed incidents of public property misuse. He cited the appointment of local council special representatives by provincial governors as particularly objectionable. Additionally, some government entities were distributing money.

Gajanayake also criticised ministries for engaging in political activities through their projects. He mentioned that the Ministry of Child Affairs and Women’s Affairs was attempting to establish approximately 20,000 women’s groups at the Divisional Secretariat level, but his group had alerted the EC and halted the initiative.

Executive Director of the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi said that while the election campaign had been peaceful, the voters must be aware of the unequal level of the field created by the misuse of state property.