Breaking news –

CaFFE director faces new disciplinary inquiry from Kelaniya University

03 August 2011

The administration of the University of Kelaniya has begun a new disciplinary inquiry against the Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, Executive Director of Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE.) Sending a letter five days after the end of the Local Government Elections Vice Chancellor of the university Sarath Amunugama has stated that ‘a new disciplinary inquiry will be held against Tennakoon for action conducted as the media coordinator for CaFFE.” Tennakoon was stripped of his post at the University on October 2008 for exposing the election law violations and other irregularities which occurred during the Eastern Provincial Council election. The first officer in charge of the disciplinary inquiry resigned on the day he was to conclude the inquiry. However during the second inquiry the officials released Tennakoon. However the university administration refused to accept this decision and has decided to begin a new inquiry 33 months after the CaFFE Director was stripped of his post. Tennakoon’s case is not an isolated incident and many reports, including the US State Department and several reports by Human Rights organizations, state that academic freedom is rapidly being restricted in Sri Lanka. CaFFE published 6 separate reports on the recently held Local Government elections; it specifically focused on the intimidation, abuse of state resources, and the mass scale poll card snatching in Kilinochchi. CaFFE states that the new disciplinary inquiry was initiated to remove Tennakoon from his position and thus to intimidate civil society activists from the academia.

Incidents – Pre-election Period

From Jan 27, 2011 to Aug 04, 2011

Abductions

1

Assaults (Property ) As @ July 21st

21

Assaults (to individuals)

15

Election law violations

41

Intimidation

19

Misuse of state Property

16

Unconfirmed incidents related to the election