Volume : 6

Issue : 79
E Mail : nandmana@sltnet.lk
www.humanrightsofficekandy.org

Together with United Religious Initiative (URI) headed by Bishop

Kumara Illangasinghe, the former Anglican bishop of Kurunegala,
the Human Rights Office, Kandy organized a campaign to ensure
Free & Fair presidential elections. Several meetings were held to
discuss and search ways and means to educate the political
party leaders and voters to curb pre-election and post-
election violence.

A media conference was held on the

29th December 2014 at 3.00 pm at the
Royal Mall hotel auditorium in
Kandy with representatives of
major political parties. Having
described the role of the UNI, the
bishop introduced the panel of
religious leaders to the Media and explained the responsibility of the religious leaders and concerns the
civil society when electing the head of the state. Each religious leader made a request from all political
representative to refrain from violence quoting the religious teachings & values.
The media personal put forward specific questions to the panel which were answered and clarified
by the bishop and the panel. The noticeable absences of the ruling party UPFA representatives,
was questioned by media personal and political leaders present. A pledge to stand for a free &
fair election was made by the representatives of political parties present. Further the religious
leaders issued a common statement requesting the political parties to allow the voters exercise
their democratic rights and abstain from intimidation and harassment.