By Skandha Gunasekara The Election Commission (EC) yesterday (4) condemned the politicisation of the distribution of goods during a global pandemic and called on politicians not to seek cheap political mileage when the country was facing an unprecedented crisis. In a statement, EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya noted that some politicians were publicising occasions where they were distributing essential items to the public and called on them to discontinue such propaganda. Meanwhile, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) too condemned the politicisation of the distribution of goods. SJB National Campaign Head and former MP Harin Fernando said that they were concerned about the politicians trying to gain favour of the masses for the elections. “There is a serious concern that politicians had got involved in the distribution of goods. Therefore, because of the politicisation, people who are partisan will get goods while others will go begging,” Fernando said, adding that they had asked the Government to allow only the tri-forces to distribute goods to ensure impartiality. The United National Party (UNP) too decried politicians trying to take political advantage of the distribution goods. UNP stalwart Ravi Karunanayake said that it had been his party who had brought this matter to the attention of the authorities. He went on to say that it was members of local government and provincial councillors who were engaged in such acts. “99% of these are members of the local governments or provincial councils of the ruling party who are doing these things,” Karunanayake noted. He said that the UNP had discussed the matter with the relevant official and requested that either all local government members and provincial councillors from all parties should be allowed to distribute goods, or no politician should be allowed to do so. “It must either be open to politicians from all political parties or none. At present, only a select few politicians are distributing essential items in an attempt to curry favour for the elections,” he said, adding that the best thing would be to completely depoliticise the exercise. Meanwhile, the Government asserted that there was no politicisation and that members of all political parties were taking part in essential goods distribution. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena said that the Task Force headed by Basil Rajapaksa had explained to all party leaders the conduct of the programme to distribute goods. “Basil Rajapaksa told all the party leaders very clearly how the distribution of goods will be carried out. Local government and provincial councillors from all parties are involved in the distribution of goods,” he said. He went on to say that strict directives had been given not to politicise this exercise. “Instructions were given to not make this a political matter and to distribute essential items fairly,” Gunawardena said. When questioned as to why the tri-forces couldn’t distribute goods instead of local government members and provincial councillors, Minister Gunawardena said that it was the duty of local and provincial councillors to take part in such exercises. “Local authorities and provincial councils are functioning organisations of the state machinery. They have to do their duties. If these governing bodies had been dissolved, then it would be a different matter but that is not the case. Therefore, provincial councillors are legally and morally responsible to take care of their electorates and the people they represent,” he said.