”Don’t Vote Corrupt persons contesting election in our UPFA list” says former UPFA Senior Minister Athauda Seneviratne

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Kegalle District group leader and former Senior Minister Athauda Seneviratne said, the main political parties in the country have granted nominations to corrupt people, using a loophole in the law as an excuse that those accused of corruption are not offenders until they are proven guilty.

He said therefore it is the responsibility of voters to defeat candidates who are contesting the election from all parties, while accused of corruption. He emphasized, “When the Alliance General Secretary Susil Premajayantha was preparing the nomination lists of the UPFA, several high ranking persons used strong influence. It is possible that it was due to that that persons accused of corruption have been granted nominations. Actually what I think is that the first responsibility of not granting nominations to corrupt persons rests with political parties. But now that opportunity has passed. As a result, the people should clearly not vote these corrupt persons to Parliament.”

It is obvious that his reference of ”several high ranking persons used strong influence” was to Mahinda Rajapakshe who wanted his extremely corrupt supporters who are accused of fraud and crime to UPFA nomination list.

Mahinda has accepted that some of his supporters were involved in fraud and crime under his leadership as president and he will not allow these extremely corrupt persons to do it in future. But interestingly he clearly wants to protect the fraudsters who had made millions under his leadership and wants them to be on the UPFA nomination list.

One of his close associate and former minister is accused of being a major drug supplier.

Seneviratne said, however many accusations there were at the end of an election, it is possible to see how extremely corrupt persons are elected to Parliament.

He also, said

• It is a problem with the political culture that prevails in this country.
• Although Sri Lanka received universal franchise in 1931,
• The political knowledge within society is minimal.
• That is why people vote for corrupt persons who give them something simple such as a package of goods once in five years.
• People also vote for politicians who give dansal as well.
• Politicians give these things once in five years and remain in power for a period of five years.

Athauda Seneviratne said, the weaknesses in the universities and the education system in this country have also been obstacles to elect learned, intellectuals to Parliament.