A tense standoff occurred in Badulla today as police intervened in a political campaign led by former Minister Harin Fernando and his supporters. The group had been wearing t-shirts featuring the number ‘10’, which closely resembled the iconic jersey number of football star Lionel Messi.
Officials from the Election Commission, alongside the police, quickly stepped in, instructing the group to remove the shirts. They argued that the t-shirts were a form of indirect campaign material, potentially violating election laws.
Despite claims from Fernando and his supporters that the t-shirts were not linked to his political bid, the authorities remained firm in their stance, labeling the move as disguised election propaganda. This sparked controversy over the boundaries of political expression during the election period. The incident highlights ongoing tensions around campaign regulations and the use of symbolic gestures in Sri Lanka’s electoral process.
In all fairness the Lotus Tower and the Lotus Auditorium and shops displaying gass cylinders also should be taken to task for displaying political party’s cymbals.