Sri Lanka National Congress leader Justice and Law Reforms Minister Milinda Moragoda recently pledged to spend a part of his campaign funds on community development projects.

A spokesman for the minister told The Island that this pledge had been given at the Vajiraramaya temple, where he assured that the roof of the temple’s library as well as some of its buildings would be repaired.

Moragoda said that his campaign at the April 8 parliamentary polls would be free of posters, large cut-outs, firecrackers and polythene decorations.

He said his party would run a campaign free of extravagance, and would utilise the savings on community development projects.

At previous elections, Moragoda had donated part of his campaign budget for the upgrading of city playgrounds and the renovation of elders’ homes, the spokesman said.

As a first step in his new campaign, Moragoda and the SLNC Campaign Committee had handed over a substantial donation to the Dayaka Sabha so that work could start, he said.

Ven. Thirikunamalaye Ananda, Amarapura Darmarakshitha Nikaya the Vidodaya Anunayaka Thero, Ven. Balangoda Sobitha Parivenadhipathi of and Ven Denipitiye Somarathana and Members of Pirivena, Ven. Ahangama Ananda, the Vajiraramaya Dayakasabawe were present at the event.

In 2001 and 2004, Moragoda set a precedent in the Colombo District by challenging other candidates to conduct their campaign so that the citizen and voter are respected.

As he then pointed out, posters and cut-outs not only infringe on private property and create an inconvenience to the public, the activity of putting up posters often results in violent clashes when unruly supporters clash with each other in the frenetic race to paste posters of their favoured candidates.