Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of the PAFFREL organization, has stated that although President Anura Kumara Dissanayake did not explicitly declare that the National People’s Power (NPP) would withhold funds from local government institutions not under its control, his recent comments constitute undue influence under Section 82 of the Local Government Elections Ordinance.
In a press release, Hettiarachchi emphasized that the President’s remarks concerning the allocation of funds to local government bodies amount to an inappropriate attempt to sway voters.
He further expressed concern that such statements are unexpected from a political leader who has publicly committed to transforming the country’s political culture. Hettiarachchi noted that President Dissanayake has played a pioneering role in setting a new standard for political conduct, aiming to steer the electoral culture in a more positive direction. He expressed hope that the President would refrain from making similar statements in the future.
President Dissanayake made the controversial comments during public meetings held in Kantale, Mannar, and several other areas, where he declared that he would readily allocate funds to local government institutions governed by the NPP. However, he added that he would “think ten times” before extending financial support to institutions not controlled by the NPP.
Hettiarachchi concluded that the President’s statements have drawn significant attention from PAFFREL as an election observation organization, due to their potential implications on the integrity of the electoral process.
