The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) has filed a formal complaint with Sri Lanka’s Election Commission (EC), accusing Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya of violating election laws by conducting National People’s Power (NPP) campaign meetings inside Hindu temples in the Jaffna District.
According to the CMEV, Amarasuriya attended political meetings at two Hindu temples on 11 April, actions which directly contravene election regulations that prohibit political campaigning within religious institutions. The meetings were reportedly framed as “Jana Hamuwas” or “Meetings with the People,” yet were conducted on temple premises despite explicit warnings from election authorities.
The complaint notes that prior to the events, former Jaffna District MP M.K. Shivajilingam alerted the EC’s Jaffna office about the planned meetings. In response, officials from the Commission reportedly visited the temples and informed their management that such political activities were not permitted under electoral law.
“It is despite this timely warning and advice that the Prime Minister chose to defiantly conduct political meetings, masquerading as ‘Jana Hamuwas’, at the very premises where they were informed not to do so,” the complaint read.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the NPP government’s approach to electoral integrity and the impartial enforcement of campaign conduct, particularly in the Tamil North-East.
The Election Commission has yet to issue a public statement on the complaint.
