UPFA using prisoners to build election stages - CaFFE

A Sri Lankan election watchdog today accused the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) of using prisons inmates to build stages, carry out decorations and engage in other election campaign activities.

The Campaign for Free and Fair Election (CaFFE) claims that the ruling party has provided the inmates with blue clothing similar to prison uniform and is using them to carry out various construction work.

CaFFE states that the individuals in the pictures (above) are inmates of the Galle Prison and that 44 of them were used to construct the UPFA election stage in Kumburupitiya, Matara on Sunday (December 14).

The election monitoring group further said that a large number of resources of the Prisons Department has been used for this election and that inmates are being used as human resources to build stages, decorate and other activities.

Sri Lanka’s current Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms is Matara District MP Chandrasiri Gajadeera, who is a member of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka.

CaFFE says that a single party being allowed to use prison inmates for election related activities prevents the existence of a level playing field.

It said that the prison band, a prison bus was used for the Kumburupitiya UPFA election rally in addition to other vehicles, flag posts, cloth and decorations.