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Fresh nominations delay North-East elections
By Shelani Perera
The Government is likely to postpone elections to local bodies in the North and East scheduled for June, with the decision to call for fresh nominations. The Government's decision to call for fresh nominations will automatically delay the polls as an amendment has to be passed in Parliament calling for fresh nominations.

After the amendments are passed a six week period will have to be given. As Parliament sits only in May the process will be delayed. The Government's decision to call for fresh nominations will cost the Elections Department an additional expense as all preparations were finalised at the time of the postponement.

The total cost for last year's local government elections has been estimated at Rs. 570 million which include elections for local bodies in the North-East Province.
Deputy Elections Commissioner M C Arunthavachelvam told The Sunday Times that 70% of the work was completed at the time of the postponement.

" The ballot papers were printed , polling cards were printed and polling cards for postal voters were dispatched. The only thing we had to do was to establish polling booths and deploy the staff" he said.

Meanwhile the Tamil parties have reiterated their doubts of a free and fair election due to LTTE control while the TNA has welcomed the move for fresh elections.
TULF Secretary General R Sampanthan told The Sunday Times that the elections will be contested under the TNA.

" We are yet to make a decision regarding the nominations which will be done soon. We will ask the LTTE also for any nominees " he said. The EPDP which is getting stiff opposition from the TNA states that the present environment is not conducive for free and fair elections.

Spokesperson of EPDP S Thavaraja told The Sunday Times that his party wants a Government assurance that free and fair elections will be held. " We will contest the elections but what about voting in the uncleared areas. Will the police be able to carry out their duty. There are a lot of questions to be looked into. Even the new legislation calling for fresh nominations will have to be first studied as to whether elections will be held in all areas" he said.

New look GCE A/L
By Nilika Kasturisinghe
The GCE Advanced Level Examination is scheduled to commence on April 21, with successful candidates due to gain entrance to the universities in November.
The examination will be held continuously for a month except during the Vesak holidays. It will be halted for Vesak on May 14, 15, 16, restart on May 17 and continue until May 21. A total number of 251,727 candidates are preparing to face the examination this year. Exams Department officials said. Of them 212, 194 will be school candidates and 39,533 private candidates.

For the first time candidates at the Advanced Level Examination will receive a booklet to write their answers, Exams Commissioner Mahinda Wijesiri said. Extra paper can be requested if the booklet is insufficient, he added.

This move has been made to cut down the massive wastage that was taking place when exam answer papers were issued to examination centres, he said adding, often officials took home papers for their own personal use and this added up to a massive waste. A single paper costs 50 cents, while this booklet will cost Rs. 2.82. Anyone who takes these illegally will be punished as it is a criminal offence, the Commissioner said.

Accountants will also be required to give an account of how many booklets were printed and how many used. Meanwhile, this will be the first time that 970 school candidates will be allowed to answer in one of three mediums at the same examination.

Youth summit at BMICH
By Bernie Wijesekera
Sri Lanka will host the first South Asia Model United Nations Summit for students (SAM UN 2003) from August 11 to 14 at the BMICH.

This summit will coincide with the United Nations International Day for Youth which is celebrated worldwide annually on August 12. The inaugural Summit SAMUN 2003 will draw over 1000 student leaders from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Dudley remembered
The 30th commemoration of former Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake will be held today at 10.00 a.m. at the foot of his statue at Borella. The statue will be garlanded by Colombo Mayor Prasanna Gunawardena.

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