The "LAST SUPPER"

WE have all heard of the “Last Supper” hosted by Jesus Christ.

However, during these election times, we get to hear of more popular “suppers” hosted by the chief occupant of the “King’s House” or the “Temple Trees”.

These “suppers” are a good example to show that today, the total expenses of the government’s election campaign are borne by the poor public. Upon announcement of the Presidential Elections, the President started this practice of inviting various sections of people to the Temple Trees and treating them as part of his re-election campaign. He has invited public officials, policemen, journalists, members of reconciliation boards, teachers and so on numbering more than 10,000 to his abode and after chairing what is called conferences and discussions, provided them with meals.

Each participant is provided with a packet of food, short-eats, a bottle of water, tea or soft drink costing around Rs. 800.- per head. In addition, for some other functions, foreign liqour such as whisky and beer is also provided. It is calculated that the total cost of this “Presidential Dan
Sela” * amounts to about Rs. 2 million per month. Further, for the purpose of holding these political seminars and meetings, an additional building has been constructed inside Temple Trees premises, by the Sri Lanka Ports Commission spending lakhs of rupees.

It is compulsory for the public servants to participate in these gatherings. Therefore, in order to safeguard their jobs, they creep into the Temple Trees, regardless of their political affiliations.
It is no secret that most of them are not happy when they return from these gatherings as they know these are political gatherings. The President, while holding these meetings and giving them a treat with a smiling face, is indirectly bribing them to vote for him.

The President, who speaks like a saint adhering to election rules, does in fact break all those rules by his actions. These gatherings are actually used to bribe the participants to get their votes directly and indirectly. The Elections Commissioner has advised the President’s secretary in writing that it is a violation of election rules for the President to invite and treat public servants after declaration of the presidential elections. The Commissione has further stated that it is illegal to spend public money to give treats to public servants during these election times.

Even prior to issue of these instructions by the Commissioner, there had been several complaints of the President inviting public officers for parties in his official residence and spending public funds for this purpose and on all such occasions, the Commissioner had remiinded the President’sl secretary of the election rules and the necessity to adhere to same. But, it is obvious that the President had conveniently ignored all those warnings.

The ordinary man in the country is now in a very bad shape as far as his living standard is concerned. Sri Lanka’s economy has gone down to such low levels hitherto unheard of. The country is about to lose the GSP+ facility as well. Even after 6 months from the conclusion of the war, the country is in the same adverse situation as far as its economy is concerned. Whilst the ordinary man is is in a hand to mouth existence, the President is merrily carrying on spending public money for his own high living and that of his family members while at the same time asking for votes for his re-election bid.

It is understood that a large hall capable of seating 5000 persons and costing millions of rupees is being constructed inside the Port facilities in Colombo. In addition to food expenses for those who are invited to the Temple Trees, there is also the additional expenditure for providing transportation to them in buses.


They have still not paid for the buses “hired” to bring in supporters for the recently held SLFP convention. Further there is an unpaid bill for Rs. 176 million for the use of National Television for advertising purposes of the President during the previous Presidential Election.

The President is openly using institutions which are required to be be indepenndent under the statutes, for his own election campaign. This is the very reason why the President has disregarded the implementation of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution which is aimed at making the government institutions independent entities.

The Election Commission has powers to stop misuse of movable and immovable property of government and semi-government organisations for election purposes. However, since the 17th amendment which establishes the Election Commission is still not in force, the Commissioner of Elections is presently vested with those powers under the Constitution.

From the day of proclamation of the presidential elections and until the conclusion of voting, it is prohibited for any candidate to use government property – movable or otherwise – and use helicopters etc. belonging to the government, for electioneering. Further the free use of government offices, buildings, holiday bungalows etc. belonging to the government is not allowed for election campaigning purposes by any candidate. Also, it is not allowed to transfer, promote, appoint any officers or staff including calling applications for new vacancies and holding of interviews, to government departments or semi government institutiions during election times. Further, the deployment of public servants for mobile services, exhibitions, opening ceremonies etc. of the government is not allowed during election times. However, in spite of all these rules and regulations, it is apparent that starting from the president himself down to his associates and minor staff, are openly flouting these rules in misusing government propertly for election propaganda.

However, not only the invitees but also the general public are very much averse to these treats at the Temple Trees. Also, it is quite apparent that all those who take part in these get-togethers are not necessarily supporters of the President’s political party. A fine example of this is the party given by the President to the local artistes the other day in Temple Trees which was attended by almost 2000 invitees. At this party given by the President, the artistes enjoyed expensive liquor and good food and went away but when they were invited by the convenor, to attend a meeting to support the president’s election campaign a few days later on another venue, only about 50 artistes participated.

Also, the policemen who were invited for a get-together were not completely happy with what had been provided to them. Further, around 1700 mediamen and journalists had been invited for another get-together a few days back. For the first time, mediation council officers had been invited for a get-together and it would not surprise anyone if judicial offers too were invited for such a get-together (“Dan Sela” ) in the Temple Trees.

At the moment, the President is inviting public officials in separate groups to the Temple Trees for get-togethers and indirectly canvassing them for votes at the expense of the general pubic. This can actually be termed as indirect bribing of government servants.

There are currently 62 types of various taxes in this country which the government is using to extract funds from the general public. It is from this money tken from the poor people of the country that the President and his extended family, members of parliament, ministers in the Jumbo Cabinet and all those who do long jumps from the opposition to the government side; are living luxurious lives.

The other day, the president’sl secretary had informed the Elections Commissioner that although the President was giving parties at his official residence, those are not paid for with public money. If that is the case, then the President must be an exemplary human being who brings funds from his home to feed the poor members of the public.
Some may say that even that is not a difficult thing to do, when one considers the amounts of money gained by the President and his family through so many shady deals of which the public is well aware.

What a noble deed it would be if the President continues to give free food and drinks to the general public even during the periods when there is no election.

But what really happens is that the people who enjoy free food and drinks given by the President during election times, have to starve until the next election comes around.


Note:*
(“Dan Sela” in Sinhalase, means an outlet providing free refreshments and food to weary pilgrims during mainly, Buddhist religious festivals)