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| Wednesday, 7 April 2004 |
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Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) states in a press release that the authorities have been able to conclude the General Election peacefully. Having observed the electoral process and all matters that contributed to a free and fair election, the TISL wishes to point out the following: * The Commissioner of Elections Mr. Dayananda Dissanayaka made every possible endeavour to make the election free and fair within his legal authority. It is regretted that the Election Commission has not been established since February 2003, though nominated by the Constitutional Council. TISL also notes that the elections staff including all the public servants and police attached to the Election Commissioner for the conduct of the election have acted fairly and without any favour. * The establishment of the Police Commission has changed the violent election culture in Sri Lanka. The TISL congratulates Mr. Ranjith Abeysuriya and other members of the National Police Commission and Mr. Indra de Silva, IGP for the excellent work done by them to ensure violent free election. * TISL which was directly involved with monitoring of abuses of state resources, notes with regret the abuses of state resources by political parties and politicians during the campaign. In particular the TISL regrets that State media institutions were among the most abused state resource. * Politicians have so far failed to display sufficient commitment to fight corruption existing in the electoral process. It is regrettable to note that less than 10 candidates out of 5698 have discharged their statutory obligation to disclose their assets and liabilities prior to elections. * During the campaign run up to the polls, all political parties have pledged to activate the Bribery Commission (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption). We hope that the Government will make this a reality, as an urgent measure by reforming the law relating to the Bribery Commission. TISL is willing to be an active stakeholder and join hands with the government to achieve the goal. |
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