Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya says she will respect any action taken by the Election Commission against her recent statement in Moratuwa if it is deemed a violation of the Election Law.
Speaking to reporters after casting her vote at the 2025 Local Government Elections, PM Amarasuriya said she had not made that statement with the intention of breaking the Election Law.
“At the time, I openly told that our election campaigning activities had concluded and must end. If my statement is in any way considered a violation, then I will respect the Election Commission’s action. It is irrelevant if it is an ordinary person or the Prime Minister; the law is equal and must be applied to me as well,” she said.
PM Amarasuriya further expressed happiness that even small mistakes are being questioned at present, which she said is a sign of the change in the political culture.
“Earlier, people were talking only about big issues. Now they are questioning even small matters. This shows a change in the political culture. We have increased the standards. It is proven that the society has more democracy at present,” she added.
The Prime Minister made the statement in response to criticism over her speech in Moratuwa, where she had told NPP party supporters that they can carry out campaigning in subtle ways, even though the silent period of the 2025 Local Government Elections commences.
“In another 04 hours, we enter the silent period. But you don’t need to become silent. You can make phone calls and say out loud certain words when you walk on the road. You can do this,” the PM had said.
Raising the matter with the Election Commission, the election monitoring body, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) pointed out that it was a violation of the Election Law to carry out propaganda activities during the silent period.
In a letter to the Commission, PAFFREL said that a statement by the Prime Minister on ways to bypass the law was a violation of the Election Law and showed a disregard for the law.
Stating that such a statement by the Prime Minister, who is a key politician, was a threat to the political culture of the country, PAFFREL called on the Election Commission to conduct a probe and take necessary action, as this was considered a threat to a free and fair election. (Newswire)
