Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission (EC) regarding recent leadership changes at the Palmyrah Development Board (PDB) in Jaffna, which appear to contravene established election laws.
On October 10, Selvin Ireneuss Mariampillai was appointed Chairman of the PDB, but just 12 days later, on October 22, he was replaced by Vinayagamoorthy Sahadevan. This rapid succession of leadership changes, accompanied by the addition of several new board members, reportedly received approval from the Cabinet Minister, despite existing restrictions set forth by the EC.
Under current election laws, as outlined in the EC’s official Gazette dated September 25, all government institutions are prohibited from making new appointments, promotions, or transfers during the election period without prior approval from the Election Commission. The recent modifications at the PDB raise significant concerns regarding adherence to these legal standards and highlight potential governance lapses during a sensitive electoral period.
TISL asserts that these appointments could undermine public trust and threaten the integrity of the electoral process. The organization urges the EC to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and implement timely corrective actions.
Furthermore, TISL calls on the Government to suspend such appointments across all public institutions until the conclusion of the General Election to mitigate perceptions of political bias or undue influence.
from The Island https://ift.tt/XQ37daH
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