PAFFREL blasts Govt. on arbitrary dissolution

An independent election monitoring group yesterday expressed displeasure at the government’s decision to dissolve the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils.
Peoples Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) chief Kingsley Rodrigo said the decision might be used by armed groups fighting against the state to rationalize their struggle.

“If the Provincial Councils could be so easily dissolved mid-term according to the whims of the ruling party instead of providing minority groups a wider participation in governance by devolving power to the PCs formed as a solution to the ethnic conflict, the projected message will not be all that positive,” he said.

Mr. Rodrigo said the move would set up a bad precedent for future governments.

“The people’s verdict that emerges out of this kind of staggered election seems to be “artificial” rather than “natural”.

Therefore the people’s mandate, obtained using government resources concentrated in a few PCs will not be the popular will of the people. By such action the government loses the opportunity of testing the pulse of the people and overlooks or bypasses a good opportunity of rectifying weaknesses in measures adopted by the administration,” he said.

PAFFREL further warned that in the bitter and merciless struggle to remain in office was bound to end up in the loss of lives, election malpractice and violence.