COLOMBO (The Island/ANN) - Elections Commission Chairman denies being funded by the US, but admits receiving financial assistance from US funded entity International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) in accordance with the USAID project.
Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya, yesterday, acknowledged that a new law as regards campaign financing was required to prevent political parties/candidates receiving undisclosed funding from both foreign and local sources.
Deshapriya asserted that the EC couldn’t do anything about such funding and it was the responsibility of Parliament to bring in laws to stop the practice. Deshapriya said so when The Island sought an explanation as to how the EC intended to prevent foreign powers influencing the forthcoming presidential election against the backdrop of the US State Department revealing its role in 2015 change of government.
Deshapriya was flanked by several senior EC officials, including Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole and Nalin Abeysekera, PC, members of the EC, at a media briefing at EC auditorium, Rajagiriya.
At the onset of the brief question and answer session followed by a lengthy statement by Deshapriya, The Island sought EC’s response to Joint Opposition MP Kanchana Wijesekera’s recent declaration during a live debate on Hiru TV that the US funded the project to change the government in January 2015. Matara District MP Wijesekera said that no less a person than the then US Secretary of State John Kerry had made the revelation in 2016 State Department report. According to the US State Department, a staggering USD 585 mn was spent to restore democracy in Nigeria, Burma and Sri Lanka in 2014/2015.
Deshapriya said that EC hadn’t received US funding. There was no basis for such accusations, Deshapriya said, adding that MP Wijesekera referred to the US funding parliament some time back.
The Island pointed out that an explanation was sought as regards EC’s action to prevent similar situation now and at no point had the EC been accused of receiving US funding.
Deshapriya refrained from commenting on measures taken by EC in that regard.
Deshapriya said that as long as Parliament delayed bringing in required legislation to deal with campaign financing, undisclosed funding from foreign sources or even heroin dealers here couldn’t be prevented.
Asked whether the EC/Election Department had received financial assistance from US funded entity International Foundation for Electoral System as alleged by MP Wijesekera and controversial role played by Vasu Mohan, regional director for Asia Pacific, Deshapriya said that EC/Election Department had received assistance in accordance with the USAID project.
Deshapriya explained how the US provided much required assistance to upgrade the technology available to them.
The EC Chairman strongly defended the US project while emphasizing Vasu Mohan was a Sri Lankan.
Deshapriya said that there was absolutely no likelihood of having PC polls ahead of the 2019 presidential poll scheduled to take place late Nov or first week of Dec 2019 unless the Supreme Court intervened. He faulted all political parties represented in Parliament for the failure on their part to hold PC polls.
Throughout the briefing EC members, Prof. Hoole and PC Abeysekera remained silent.
Responding to a query from the electronic media, Deshapriya said that PC and presidential election would cost Rs 400 mn each. However, if they were held within two months of each other, as much as Rs 200 mn could be saved, Deshapriya said. According to him, both elections would cost the taxpayer Rs 600 mn in case they could be held in quick succession.
He urged the media not to cause public wary of the electoral system. At the commencement of the briefing, Deshapriya explained measures taken by the EC to enhance public participation in the electoral process in spite of various difficulties. The Island asked Deshapriya why the EC had done absolutely nothing to discourage political parties from accommodating those who had been rejected by the electorate. Deshapriya blamed the situation on the Constitution.
Deshapriya said that defeated candidates were being accommodated in accordance with the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
Referring to his discussions with President Sirisena, Deshapriya said that he felt the President wouldn’t seek Supreme Court opinion on his term and the election could be held as scheduled.
Deshapriya quoted Speaker Jayasuriya as having told him that many considered PC polls before presidential polls was a hindrance.
