In a development that underscores rising tensions ahead of Sri Lanka’s local government elections, the Election Violence Monitoring Center has lodged a second formal complaint with the Election Commission against President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The center alleges that the President violated key provisions of election law through partisan remarks made during multiple campaign events.
This new complaint, filed last Friday, follows a previous submission made on April 2. In that initial complaint, the center focused on public statements made by President Dissanayake at campaign rallies in Tissamaharama on March 29 and in Buttala on March 31. Now, the second complaint adds six new allegations to the growing list, centering around statements delivered at campaign stops in Kandy (April 10), Akkaraipattu and Sammanthurai (April 11), Kantale and Batticaloa (April 12), and Mannar (April 17).
According to the Election Violence Monitoring Center, the core of the issue lies in remarks where the President implied that local government bodies not controlled by the National People’s Power (NPP) would face delays or denials in receiving financial support from the central government. The statements allegedly suggested that councils under non-NPP control would be subject to repeated scrutiny before being granted funds, while those managed by the NPP would receive unimpeded financial assistance.
Critics argue that such comments could intimidate voters or influence their choices by linking local governance outcomes directly to political favoritism in the distribution of state funds. The Election Violence Monitoring Center contends that this violates both the spirit and the letter of election law, particularly regulations meant to ensure equal treatment and nonpartisanship by state officials during an active campaign period.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who also leads the NPP, has yet to respond formally to the allegations. His government has maintained a public posture of accountability and transparency, but these latest charges may increase scrutiny on his administration’s conduct during the high-stakes local government race.
The Election Commission has not publicly commented on whether it will launch an investigation into the complaints. However, observers note that the decision could carry significant political weight, not only for the credibility of the electoral process but also for the broader narrative of democratic governance under the current administration.
