The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) yesterday said the organization did not support the proposed amendments to the 18th amendment of the constitution stating that the electoral process would be severely affected.
CMEV National Coordinator, D. M. Dissanayake said that if the appointment of the heads of the seven commissions is done by the President through the 18th amendment the independence of the commissions may be lost. “It is vital to have an independent Election Commission in order to ensure that there will be free and fair elections. If we don’t have one then there is no certainty that elections will be held properly,” he said.
Mr. Dissanayake said that in the recent past the people had lost faith in the election system in the country and that the proposed 18th amendment will not change this. “The people did not have any trust in the election results of the past few elections that were held. During these elections the Elections Commissioner did not utilize his powers with respect to the abuse of state resources and controlling the functions of the media. These will not be controlled if we allow the 18th amendment to be implemented,” he said.
Source: Daily Mirror – 03.09.2010