CaFFE seeks legal action on misuse of vehicles by Berty Premalal

The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) has reported to the Commissioner of Elections that vehicles used by the former Chief Minister of North-Central Provincial Council which were officially returned to the relevant authorities after the dissolution of the Provincial Council and all details of the returned vehicles were recorded. But these vehicles have reappeared for election propaganda work with different registration numbers appearing in their number plates, the CaFFE has reported. It was verified that fraudulent documents with regard to the ownership of the vehicles have been prepared and the vehicles are openly being used for election campaigning. According to official documents the vehicles were handed over to a business establishment called Siri Motors, the Transport Authority, the Regional Development and Construction Agency and some retired government officials.

The CaFFE has furnished to the Elections Commissioner the registration numbers in the number plates of the vehicles. Vehicles bearing Nos. NC KE 2682, NC GC-5339 , 64-7666 and 65-6409 used by the former Chief Minister and vehicles bearing numbers 54-7305, 53e-9380, 32-6503, 32-946, 65-6413 and 58-8333 which were used by the staff of the provincial council are being used in the manner for election work, the CaFFE has indicated to the Commissioner of Elections.

Furthermore, vehicles under the purview of the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine bearing the number plates KJ 9443, KH 4334 and KI 3443 are also illegally being used for elections work, the CaFFE has stated.

In its letter to the Elections Commissioner, the CaFFE has requested for institution of necessary legal action to prevent the misuse of the vehicles and other state properties for election propaganda work.

Meanwhile UNP Secretary General Tissa Attanayake stated at a media conference today that vehicles without number plates were being used for election propaganda work and these vehicles are freely passing the security check points and barriers without being checked or questioned. Tissa Attanayake said that this is a very dangerous trend in the run up to the PC elections and should be stopped.