CAFFE cannot claim to be independent - Media Ministry advisor

The emergence of an election monitoring organisation called the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) just days before the Eastern poll has become a hot subject in the media. It has issued several statements to the press.

Commenting on CAFFE, Advisor to the Media Ministry Charitha Herath said it cannot be claim to be independent as it consists not only of UNP members but individuals holding high-ranking posts in that party.

"Others don't necessarily wear the party badge in public but are well-known to devote most of their time and energy to further the designs of the UNP. Still others are members of parties that have recently affiliated themselves with the UNP," he said.

"There's nothing wrong in a political party putting together a team to observe and monitor an election. It should however be done transparently. Posturing as 'independents' when in fact one is doing the bidding of the party leadership is dishonest and moreover a deliberate act of hoodwinking the public," he added. He said it was pathetic that the UNP had descended to this level.