By J.T. de Silva Courtesy Ceylon Today

The officers from Election Commission (EC) were able to bust a large-scale election violation racket when they raided the Ministry of Primary Industries and Social Empowerment yesterday following a complaint received.

According to the EC, a programme had been lined up to distribute cheques to the value of Rs 1 million each, to over 100 Samurdhi Managers, through Minister Daya Gamage, after having invited them to the Ministry premises. The raid was carried out by officers of the EC along with the Police.

Sources said, when the EC officers had arrived at the Ministry premises, the Minister concerned along with Samurdhi Director General (DG) had been present.  
Later, the EC officers had imposed a Prevention Order on the issuance of the cheques and had recorded statements from the Samurdhi Managers who had arrived at the Ministry to obtain the cheques as well as from the Samurdhi DG regarding the event.

Informed sources said EC officers had recorded statements from all officers serving at the Suhurupaya building in Battaramulla and from all officers attached to the Samurdhi Ministry till late evening yesterday.

During the initial probe conducted into the incident, it had come to light that the distribution of cheques had been proposed to be carried out in several phases.
These sources said officers from the EC had raided the said Ministry during the afternoon of last Saturday after Samurdhi Director-General S.E.R.G.M.S.P. Bandara had attempted to distribute 800,000 Samurdhi ownership cards that had been printed.

A top officer from the EC stated that before the lapse of 48 hours after last Saturday’s bust, the second violation of election-related laws and regulations had been committed by the Samurdhi DG last morning.

He added that a complete report will be submitted to the State Services Commission and the Attorney General regarding the blatant violation of election laws and regulations by the Samurdhi DG.