Concerns Raised Over Missing Presidential Candidates and Lack of Transparency in Election Process

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The Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Executive Director, Manjula Gajanayake, has expressed concerns regarding the lack of transparency surrounding three candidates who filed their nominations for the upcoming presidential election but have since vanished from sight.

While 39 individuals initially joined the race, one of them just died away, and no official successor has been chosen for the dead, according to Gajanayake, speaking on Ada Derana’s “Big Focus.” “I see a weakness in not naming an official replacement for the candidate who passed away,” he stated. “A “Plan A” and a “Plan B” would be part of a well-run procedure. The lack of openness is deceitful.

Gajanayake also pointed out additional issues with the remaining candidates. “Out of the 38 remaining candidates, only 15 have organized any meetings, and at least 10 people have not gathered for the 23 who haven’t,” he added.

He went on to say that when the Election Commission called two of the candidates’ phone numbers, it was discovered that they were inaccurate, and that one of the candidates had hung up in the middle of the conversation.

Furthermore, Gajanayake emphasized that three candidates have not released any remarks on their candidacies, and five candidates do not own Facebook profiles. Nomination papers and bonds have been submitted, but these candidates have not made their public debuts.

It has also been difficult to find any basic information about the candidates.“We wanted to upload a passport-sized photograph of each candidate on our website, but for 24 of the 39 candidates, obtaining even a picture has been impossible,” Gajanayake concluded.

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