The Election Commission says that the government printing press has never requested money for the printing of ballot papers.
The Election Commission claims that the Government Printing Department is bound to carry out the government’s printing work.
The Election Commission says that since an election is a government process, the printing of ballot papers must be done by the government printing press and therefore it is unacceptable for the printing press to ask for money to print the ballot papers this time.
This situation has arisen after the President made a note in the cabinet meeting held on the 30th that government institutions should avoid getting goods and services on credit basis.
The President had emphasized that any officer who violates it should be personally responsible for the expenses.
Due to the new order, the local government election process has been hampered.
This is due to the fact that the Election Commission used to obtain goods and services on credit basis in every previous election and then release the necessary money from time to time.
Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickramasinghe, as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policy, had instructed the Treasury Secretary on the 8th to provide provisions only for essential government expenses until the state revenue situation improves.
These include payment of wages, loan services, pensions, hospital medical supplies, monthly Samurdhi subsidy, financial assistance to the elderly, financial assistance to low-incomers, financial assistance to kidney patients, and financial assistance to people with disabilities are proposed in the budget to pay those affected by economic hardship.
Also, provisions will be allocated for grade 05 scholarship allowance, Mahapola Bursary, Triposha Programme, Farmer Pension, School Children’s Nutrition Programme, War Hero and Disabled War Hero Allowance, War Hero Parent Care Allowance, non-deferrable electricity, water, fuel, and essential telecommunication services, hospitals, prisons, for food supply, maintenance services, building rent, cleaning services, contractual payments for security services, statutory payments such as employee benefits, fertilizer subsidy and for the security forces.
