2010 ue;sjrK ms

It has been confirmed that many persons holding important positions in the publicsector are engaged in electioneering. Though a no campaign period has beendeclared by the Commissioner of Elections from April 6, 2010, the candidatescontinued their campaigns through advertisements in the media, mobile textmessages and house- to- house campaigns disregarding the directive of theCommissioner of Elections statement further said.Text of the statement is followsTwo buses belonging to the Technical Colleges in Ratnapura and Anuradhpurabearing numbers NA-6916 and NA 6912 have been released for a training programto be held in Galle from 5 – 15 March, 2010. However these buses were notreturned to the said respective Training Colleges and are being used for electionrelated work in all the Galle District.70 Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) were used to transport supporters of the UPFAfor a campaign meeting held in Vavuniya by Minister Rishad Bathiyudeen on April1, 2010. President Mahinda Rajapakse addressed this meeting.Buses belonging to the Nittambuwa depot bearing numbers GP 9872, 69-591 and63-1472 were sent for election campaign work to Galgamuwa on March 27, 2010.Buses bearing numbers NA 4151 and NA 3859 from the said depot were sent toVavuniya to transport supporters for an election rally.Two Rosa buses bearing numbers 62-5955 and NA 6975 belonging to the Sri LankaPorts Authority (SLPA) have been sent to Colombo to be used for the election workof Hari Gupta Rohanadeera. The drivers are paid their batta and overtime despitebeing involved in election campaign activity in Colombo.The PPPR in its reports issued on March 24, 2010 and April 4, 2010 the level ofabuse of government employees for election related work. This is a violation of thedirectives issued on February 13, 2010 by the Commissioner of Elections againstabuse of public resources.-113-