The president, cabinet nor a provincial governor has discretion whatsoever to deny funds due for any local government body under the control of an opposition party or an independent group, three former governors said in a statement.
Signed by Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, Maithri Gunaratne and Asath Sally, it refers to remarks by the president twice that he would readily allot funds to NPP-controlled LG bodies, but would closely monitor before funding the others.
What the president said is a politically-forceful statement which is an election fraud, misleading of the public and without any foundation, they stressed.
Whoever voted to power, they should have the freedom in running the LG bodies, said the three ex-governors, adding the president is bound by the constitution and the regulations to fulfil his obligations.
They also refuted a claim in a NPP leaflet the central government funds the LG bodies, noting that a majority of them have so far been receiving allocations to pay salaries only.
LG bodies have their own income generation avenues by way of taxes, stamp duty charges etc, they said.
A writ order can be obtained from courts against anyone blocking the receipt of such income, the three governors added.