Media Unit – CaFFE 

 It seems like the ‘good governance’ administration has started using the Prime Minister’s official residence, the Temple Trees, for election propaganda purposes just like during the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration.

 Last Thursday (04) the Science Department of the Ministry of Education has convened around 3000 people from across the country to Temple Trees to ‘distribute mobile laboratories to schools.’ However this was essentially a political function.

The event which was organized by Education Director, MP Vipulasena and a letter of invitation was sent to participants on January 02 and a letter of confirmation was sent on January 04. Thus state officials which participated for this event have the ability to obtain official leave.

 During the Rajapaksa Administration, Temple Trees was used to host events which were a blatant violation of election laws and directives issued by the Commissioner of Elections. It seems that the Ministry of Education has decided to follow the example set by the previous administration and has openly and blatantly violated the directive of the Elections Commission.

 CaFFE finds it unfortunate that the Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam who promised to change the culture of impunity, where state resources were openly abuses, has now decided that abusing state resources is necessary to conduct an election. Moreover we are further saddened to see that state officials have not learned a lesson from the plight of Lalith Weeratunga and Anusha Palpita.

 CaFFE requests the Secretary to the Prime Minister not to allow anyone to use Temple Trees for election campaigning in the future.

Media Unit – CaFFE