The Bar Association of Sri Lanka today requested the Election Commissioner to issue an urgent order to all TV and Radio networks to cease broadcasting any form of religious program campaigning on behalf of incumbent president violating the election laws.

BASL president Upul Jayasuriya stated it had been reliably informed that large number of the Maha Sangha are being brought to Colombo for the purpose of a massive scale pirith ceremony to be held today evening for the purpose of bestowing blessing on the incumbent president.

This development comes after the request by Chief Prelates of the main Buddhist Chapters to ensure a free and fair election. They made this request from the Elections Commissioner yesterday.

In a letter addressed to the Elections Commissioner, the Maha Nayaka Theras of the Asgiri and Malwatta Chapters have said that since the ancient times it has been the responsibility of Maha Sangha to guide the people of this country to live in unity, peace and coexistence.