Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake clarified that the Election Commission cannot be held responsible for unethical behavior within political parties. He stated that the Commission’s role, after receiving the National List MP nomination from a party secretary, is to legally publish the name in the Gazette.
Responding to an inquiry by Lankasara regarding the controversy surrounding Ravi Karunanayake’s alleged manipulation to secure a National List MP position, the Commissioner General explained that any decision to revise the Gazette can only be made through a court order.
He further elaborated that if an MP resigns after taking the oath, the Election Commission has the legal authority to re-gazette a new name nominated by the party secretary, as outlined in election laws.
“This situation is a result of uncivilized politics, where parties form opportunistic alliances to seize power without political morality,” he remarked.
He emphasized that the Election Commission’s responsibility ends with gazetting the name submitted by the party secretary, regardless of any internal disputes within the party. “The internal matters of a party are irrelevant to us. After the party secretary sends us a name, it is not our concern whether party members agree with it or not. If there is no morality or discipline in the party, that is their issue to resolve,” he said.
He also noted that after the name of Shermila Perera, the party secretary, was submitted to the Commission, there was no need to scrutinize the party’s internal decisions. “We cannot be held responsible for any shady politics within their party. They must address those issues themselves. How can these parties hope to build a country when they lack discipline within their own ranks?”
He concluded by stating that any claims of misconduct must be addressed through legal channels. “If Shermila acted improperly, a police complaint should be filed, and the matter taken to court for resolution within the existing legal framework. From our side, we have no reason to cancel this Gazette unless a court orders us to do so. This Gazette is not issued for the individual concerned but based on the party secretary’s nomination,” the Commissioner General explained.
