(COLOMBO) Many independent candidates are being used as proxies for other candidates who are contesting the Presidential Election, former Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said.
How he stopped making adverse comments on these so called independent candidates.
“President Ranil Wickremesinghe is contesting Sri Lanka’s upcoming Presidential Election as an independent candidate. He has previously held positions such as the incumbent President, former Prime Minister, and former Opposition Leader,” he said.
“However, based on our experience, many independent candidates act as proxies for those actually running in the election. It is evident that three or four former MPs with direct ties to a particular party have submitted nominations to support a particular candidate. I am open to any challenge regarding the issue of proxy candidates.
“If they want to change their independent candidacy, they should inform authorities before submitting their nominations. They must present at least 50,000 affidavits, either in person or through an online system, to have their nominations accepted. Imposing a fine of Rs. 5 million is ineffective compared to the cost of holding an election,” Deshapriya said.
In the most recent development on Monday five more persons have placed their deposits today in order to contest the 2024 Presidential Election, raising the number to 32 independent candidates, said.
This includes 15 independent candidates who have been nominated by a voter, 16 candidates from recognized political parties and one candidate from other political parties.
The independent candidates who had placed bonds on monday are former sports minister Roshan Ranasinghe and common candidate of Tamil parties Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanethiran while Abhubakar Mohammed Infaz of the United Democratic Alliance and Prasanga Suranjeewa Anoj de Silva of the Democratic United National Front have also placed deposits with the elections regulatory body.
The Election Commission of Sri Lanka had issued a Gazette on July 26 declaring that the 2024 Presidential Election will be held on the 21st September 21 2024 and that nominations will be accepted until August 15, 2024.
