IS THE NPP AS CLEAN AS BEING CLAIMED?

The United Republic Front (URF) led by former Minister Champika Ranawaka has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission on April 2, against President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, over a purported statement made by the latter at an election rally in Weligama.

- By M.S.M.Ayub

The URF in its complaint quoted the President as having said in that rally that the funds from the central government would be released only to the local councils that are run by untainted groups of people and that only the groups led by the National People’s Power (NPP) could be deemed to be so high-minded.

Entertaining this purported statement, the URF Vice-Chairman, Theekshana Gammanpila, has argued in his complaint that President was to decide as to which councils are to be provided with development aid from the central government which was an undue influence on the voters at a time when they are preparing to vote at the forthcoming local government elections on May 6.

However, the said statement by the President in the relevant YouTube video is somewhat different where he states that issuing central government funds to the councils won by the NPP would not be a problem whereas funds would have to be released to the other councils after a thorough scrutiny.

Gammanpila contends that the President by this statement has insinuated that except for those of the NPP members yet to be elected to the councils at the upcoming elections would be corrupt.