An independent monitor has criticised the recent Sri Lankan parliamentary election as not being free and fair.
“The campaign is not free and fair – it’s crystal clear, the election law has not prevailed on the ground,” Rajith Tennakoon, of the Campaign for Fair and Free Elections (CAFFE), told The Samosa.
While the election day itself was peaceful, he said that infringements of election rules by the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) coalition in the run-up to polling day had prevented a free and fair election process.
Tennakoon said that because the election was effectively a one horse race, the UPFA was able to misuse state property, including vehicles and human resources. “Whatever resources is available to misuse, is misused,” he said.
He described Sri Lanka as “one of the worst examples for freedom of expression”, and criticised the country’s election commissioner for “not doing his best” to use his powers.
The election commissioner threatened to resign following January’s presidential election, won by Mahinda Rajapaksa, but he ultimately stayed in post.
“He kept his mouth shut,” said Tennakoon.
The 8th April parliamentary election was won by Rajapaksa’s UPFA coalition with a sweeping majority, though short of the two-thirds majority Rajapaksa needs to change the country’s constitution.
