2010 ue;sjrK ms

The following are further instances of the use of government employees for theelection campaign.It has been confirmed that many persons holding important positions in the publicsector are engaged in electioneering. The following persons have endorsed thecandidature of certain candidates in advertisements published in the newspapers.Professor Shanika HImburegama, Vice Chancellor Colombo University, Dr.S.A.Weliwegama, Sri Lanka Chemistry Institute, Dr. N.L.A Karunaratne, KamalsiriMallikarachchi, Deputy Registrar Sri Jayewardenapura University, AKetapotaarachchi, Senior Assistant Registrar, Post Graduate Institute ofArchaeology University of Kelaniya, Abeyratne Samarakoon, Senior AssistantLibrarian Kelaniya University, K.K.A.S Premadasa, Principal Mahamaya BalikaVidyalaya Kadawatha, N.G. H. Namalgamuwa, Research Officer, Post GraduateInstitute of Archaeology University of Kelaniya, Udayangani Karunathileke Bandara,Research Officer Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology University of Kelaniya andV.S Iroshan, Research Officer Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology University ofKelaniya.Mr. Gamini Wickramasingha, Chairman Bank of Ceylon (BOC), Mr. DhanapalaSenior Area Manager BOC and other officials of the said bank attended a campaignmeeting of Presidential Advisor and former MP Basil Rajapakse in Ja-ela. Themeeting was organised to solicit support of the employees of the Central Bank,Bank of Ceylon and the People’s Bank who are Gamapaha District residents. TheChairman BOC called on the participants to vote for candidate Basil Rajapakse.The PPPR reported in its report issued on March 24, 2010 listed the participation ofSecretary Defence, Gotabhaya Rajapakse at political campaign meetings ofcandidates. The trend has not ceased and the Commissioner of Elections appearsto be unable to persuade the Secretary Defence to refrain from engaging inelectioneering. The Secretary Defence has addressed a Kotte SLFP Balamandalayameeting on April 6, 2010. This was reported in the The Island on April 7, 2010. Thenewspaper also stated that the Secretary Defence addressed a series of meeting insupport of several UPFA candidates.-114-