Election Commission Clears Nurses at NPP Conference

Election Commission Clears Nurses at NPP Conference

News Today: Election Commission Clarifies Nurses at NPP Conference

The National Election Commission (EC) has clarified that government nurses attending the National All Ceylon Nurses’ Conference in uniform, under the patronage of National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, have not violated election regulations. A senior EC official stated that participation is permissible under the Establishment Code governing public servants. “It is not an election violation as long as it has been done according to the Establishment Code,” the official said, emphasizing that public servants retain the right to support any political party. The conference was more focused on professional matters rather than a political gathering.

Sources indicated that the Secretary to the Ministry of Health had granted duty leave for nurses to attend the conference. However, the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) voiced dissent, alleging that the presence of government nurses in uniform at the conference breaches both the Establishments Code and election regulations. CaFFE communicated its concerns to the Commission, arguing that the use of taxpayer-funded uniforms for political purposes violates established norms and regulations.