The Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said the government has stressed that State employees had not been deployed for election propaganda as opposition parties have claimed when the issue was discussed at a meeting with the Human Rights Commission today.

The Human Rights Commission Wednesday decided to hold a special meeting yesterday to address the complaints received by the Commission regarding violating existing election rules by deploying of government employees for election propaganda in the forthcoming Uva Provincial Council Elections.

The Commission called the Elections Commissioner, Director General of the Divi Neguma Development Department, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Director General of the Combined Service, Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Development and Additional Secretaries of Divi Neguma for the Meeting to clarify any difficulties that may arise in the course of their duties.

The Election Commissioner told reporters after the meeting with the Human Rights Commission that the Elections Secretariat had raised the concerns with the government as soon as the issue was raised and the government denied the claims.

Human Rights Commissioner, Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa meanwhile speaking to media said the Human Rights Commission would request all Secretaries of Ministries and the heads of all the government institutions not to release any employees or public funds and properties for election campaigns.

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has lodged complaints with the Human Rights Commission alleging that certain state officials have deployed government employees for election propaganda for the upcoming Uva Provincial Council elections.

The Human Rights Commission has noted that using state employees for election propaganda is a violation of country's election laws. (PRIU)