Government will not interfere with the operations of the elections commission - Dr. Wijeyadasa

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lanka's Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told Parliament on Thursday (5) that the government will never interfere with the operations of the Elections Commission.

"We will not interfere with their (election commission) activities, and we will not try to amend their agenda. We have never reached such a decision and have not communicated to them of any such matter," said the Justice Minister.

He said that the National Election Commission, which is an independent body, must continue with its operations, and there will be no interference from the government.

"With the assistance of the opposition we secured the passage of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution that details the elections, the date of the elections, and the process of the elections. Thereby, it is the independent Elections Commission that will act on these matters," said the Minister.

The Minister said the government nor the parliament has the power to amend any decision made by the Elections Commission. 

Minister Rajapakshe was responding concerns raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in Parliament.