Public officers given a warning

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has sent directives to public officers saying investigations will be conducted against them if they fail to act in a manner to ensure that the forthcoming Presidential election is conducted freely and fairly.

According to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, if public officers vested with legal responsibility misuse such responsibility, act beyond legal boundaries, fail to perform duties which they are duty bound to perform or delay the performance of their duties without justifiable reason, it amounts to a violation of fundamental rights. Public officers have been warned in the directive against the non implementation of the law which amounts to a violation of fundamental rights, non implementation of official duties, failure to perform duties, misconduct relating to duties, misuse of power and allowing the use of public property and resources for certain political parties and groups to the detriment of other groups which amount to a violation of fundamental rights for which officers responsible for them become personally responsible. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has also warned public officers, who do not have the right to engage in political activities, against engaging in such activity and public officers having the right to engage in political activities engaging in them during their office hours or engaging in political activities misusing their official powers which amount to offences in terms of election laws and administrative laws in force. The Human Rights Commission noted that the right to vote has been declared as a fundamental right by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and as such on an occasion when an election takes place, all persons are bound to ensure that the election takes place in conformity with the laws prevailing in the country and the Constitution and public officers vested with responsibility should conduct their official duties in compliance with such laws and act fairly and impartially.