The Center for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) has forwarded a written complaint to the Director of the Ministerial Security Division (MSD) against Jeevan Thondaman, the son of late Minister Arumugam Thondaman.
The CMEV has charged Jeevan Thondaman, who is contesting from the Nuwara-Eliya district under the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), of misusing MSD officers.
In its complaint, the CMEV points out that Thondaman who is not a minister yet is misusing the MSD officers Unit which was designated for the protection of his late father.
Officials from the CMEV have reported incidents of MSD officers being present during election campaigns attended by Jeevan Thondaman during the past few days, it said.
Commenting on the matter, the Director of the MSD said he is yet to study the letter of complaint by the CMEV, adding that he cannot comment on the action to be taken in this regard yet.
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) has further requested a security assessment report to clarify as to why the MSD assigned a Unit for the protection of Thondaman.
The CMEV pointed out that a delay by state institutions or law enforcement authorities to respond to such queries hinders the work of election monitoring groups to hold a free and fair election.
Special treatment cannot be provided for candidates regardless of their political influences and a level- playing field is created for them, it added. (Newswire)