An Election Every Year

Representatives of political parties last week met with Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya and officials of the Elections Department.

During the meeting that was attended by representatives of the government, UNP, JVP and other political parties, a witty deputy commissioner had said that for the first time in his service at the Department, he has experienced an election every year.
Other members of the Department, including Deshapriya, have said that it was due to the new system of holding elections. Unlike in previous years provincial council and local government elections are now held in a scattered manner. Therefore, there are elections every year and the Elections Department has to make logistical preparations for elections on an annual basis.
When the Election officials made these remarks about elections being held every year, the government representatives participating in the meeting had remained silent. The Elections Commissioner had added that people no longer paid any attention to elections. He had said that the only reason people registered themselves in the voters’ list was to admit their children to schools. According to Deshapriya, in some instances he has had to respond to queries by schools about the inclusion of certain names in the voters’ list when Grade 1 admission interviews are conducted.

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Debate Turns Into A Battle

A heated argument between a young UNP parliamentarian and a governing UPFA parliamentarian converted a political debate into a battlefield last week.
UNP parliamentarian Harin Fernando and Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody were participating in a political debate on the country’s current political situation and the economy hosted by a private televisions station when they started an argument about the UNP and its leadership.
The argument had left everyone baffled, especially the employees at the network who have been worried whether the argument would result in a deviation from the theme of the debate.
Weerakkody had criticised the UNP and its leadership saying that not even 15 UNP parliamentarians attended the party’s parliamentary group meeting. Fernando had charged back saying Weerakkody could not be respected as a deputy speaker and had in fact called him a “peeping Tom.” Fernando had criticised the current administration and said the country was in anarchy. Responding to the statement, Weerakkody had said that the UNP is currently in a similar state.
The argument had continued even during breaks in the programme and after the political debate came to an end, Fernando and Weerakkody had been arguing outside the studio as well.

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Questions Raised On Role Of Parliament Staff
The role of parliamentary staff became a topic of conversation when UNP parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekera raised the issue in the House on Friday (24).
Jayasekera had alleged that some senior government ministers had assigned parliamentary staff to carry out their work.
He had referred to Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, whom Jayasekera claimed was using some members of the parliament staff for his work.
The opposition legislators had also faulted the parliament staff for working for government ministers claiming they have become politicised.
Following Jayasekera’s statement, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa had asked Secretary General Dhammika Kithulgoda to inquire into the issue raised by Jayasekera.