EC, a man of honour says Nazeer Ahmed

"Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake is a man committed to the cause of democracy and has dedicated himself to the cause and concerns of Sri Lankans to whom he has served for so long," said Muslim National Alliance leader Nazeer Ahmed.

Responding to adverse media remarks on the Elections Commissioner he said that these comments were unjustified, and he believed the Elections Commissioner (EC) was a man of honour.

He pointed out the Elections Commissioner had gone on record as he had not voted at any election. "He truly believe his impartiality would be jeopardised were he to cast his vote for one candidate or another. 'This speaks volumes for his honesty and integrity' Ahmed stressed.

Alluding to the UNP's charges that 400,000 votes were lopped off the Voters Register for 2005, he said their allegation does not make sense when one takes into account that the figures keep changing from time to time.

'The initial figure has now been reduced to 125,000 votes. How does the UNP respond to these variations?' queried Ahmed.

'The UNP should have checked the voters list prior to the election and brought any discrepancies to the authorities notice if they are a responsible political party, he said.

Moreover, the UNP had said that they would go to courts to seek redress but had not done so even though 21 days legal time frame for such action had lapsed," he said.

If the issue was a grave as suggested by the UNP then the fact that they had not gone to court is baffling to say the least' 'Besides it is the same UNP that had disenfranchised the estate sector in the early 1950s, said Ahmed.

All politicians should take the Elections Commissioner's advice to give legal effect to the 17th amendment if they are genuine in their claims of strengthening the hands of the Elections Commissioner. 'Perhaps we should emulate the Indian law which gives wide powers to the Elections Commissioner," he said.

'If this was done then the puerile exercise of defeated parties to blame the Elections Commissioner for their losses would cease to exist' 'There would be no passing of the buck and political parties would be forced to accept defeat gracefully," he said.

The Elections Commissioner is an incorruptible man and that if he were to retire at this crucial juncture it would be hard to find a replacement.

'Men like Dayananda Dissanayake are needed for the furtherance of democracy in the country and as examples to other Government servants, said Nazeer Ahmed.