An Open letter to the Election Commissioner of Sri Lanka

- A Gobitharan (London)

Dear Mr Dissanayake

(February 05, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Recent events following the Presidential election have put you on the negative limelight, due to your confusing and contradicting comments made head down without looking at the audience.

Lots of accusations are leveled against you. Some have been denied. The manner in which you are responding to the issues surrounding the conduct and the outcome of the election is further confusing the citizens like me. I plead with you to look at the face of the world at large and tell the truth to the following serious questions.

Question 1: According the ‘The Times’ report filed by Jeremy Page ‘The President’s brother and adviser, went to see the Independent Elections Commissioner just before the latter announced the final results. The ministers denied that Basil Rajapaksa was meeting the commissioner, and said that he was asleep at the time, but Ms Wenger said that she saw him leave the Commissioner’s office immediately after the press conference’.

My simple question to you is: Did Basil Rajapakse meet you just before the election results were announced? If so, what was discussed or ordered by him?

Question 2: Sri Lanka Guardian in its exclusive news reported that you and your wife were held in captivity in the Presidents official residence Temple Trees and intimidated to obtain your consent to announce the government favoured comments on the outcome of the election and also to get your resignation announcement withdrawn.

In the public interest and to earn the public confidence, would you kindly confirm by looking at the audience straight on their face without fear or subdued voice, whether this story is true or false.

Question 3: The Lankanewsweb in its latest news headlined ‘A group of Army personnel had imprisoned Election Commissioner’s wife and daughter at Water’s Edge on the election day’.

Once again in the public interest, will you be able to confirm this story is true or false.

I understand that you are not permitted to travel overseas until the General Election is over. If this is not true, will you be able to travel to the UK or any other healthy democratic country and make a public statement on the issues surrounding the election. I am prepared to fund your first class flight ticket for your visit, as I consider your public statement in a respectable place without any fear of recrimination will be very useful for Sri Lanka’s future.

Finally, with the very serious accusations levelled against you on the conduct of the Presidential election, how do you expect the citizens of Sri Lanka to consider you are independent to conduct the forthcoming General Election? Will you make a public statement to confirm what action you will be taking to overcome the difficulties you have encountered during the Presidential election to ensure the difficulties are not repeated with your backing?