Minister Rishad Bathiudeen is blatantly violating election laws in the Mannar District by distributing money and goods in the guise of religious donations, Campaign for Free and Fair Election (CaFFE) Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon said.

 

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, he accused Bathiudeen of donating money to religious leaders in the area and distributing goods to the people.

 

He also said that Bathiudeen has taken precautions to disguise his donations at religious events to mislead the election officials.

 

Meanwhile, Tennakoon accused the police of not conducting investigations into complaints on Bathiudeen’s alleged election violations. The police is not taking measures to remove posters in the area, he further said. It was as if Mannar does not belong to the jurisdiction of the country, Tennakoon said, slamming the police for its inaction.

 

However, Bathiudeen rejected the allegations leveled at him, saying that he is making such donations in every Ramazan season. He has informed the election officials of the matter, he said.