Election Commission Chairman R. M. A. L. Ratnayake has informed Public Administration, Home Affairs, Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry Secretary PradeepYasaratne, to provide an explanation as to why a circular has been issued to all secretaries of ministries to pay state pensioners Rs.3,000 as an interim allowance from September, creating a wrong precedent, in spite of the order issued by the Election Commission.
In a letter sent yesterday (8), the EC said that since it is inappropriate to pay an interim allowance of Rs.3,000 to government pensioners during a period when the election law is in force, it was informed during a meeting of the secretaries of the ministries held at the Election Commission that the payment should be postponed till October.
Contrary to these instructions, the Public Administration, Home Affairs, Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry Secretary has issued a circular instructing all ministry secretaries to go ahead with the payment in September.
The letter also states that the Ministry Secretary has set a wrong precedent for all government employees by giving such instructions to the secretaries of all ministries through a circular.
According to Article 104b(4)(a) of the Sub-Constitution, it is stated that the Election Commission has the power to prohibit the use of any property belonging to the Government to promote any political party or candidate during the period of the election and according to Article (b), the letter further states that all officials in charge of government owned properties arebound to implement the related terms.
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