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PC
polls chaos: CMs oppose dissolution As widely reported, government and opposition leaders in parliament had reached agreement that all provincial council elections would be held on a single Saturday mainly to cut cost. But with chief ministers of several PA-controlled provincial councils protesting, the amendment relating to holding elections on the same day was quietly dropped with House Leader W. J. M. Lokubandara saying the government and opposition leaders had only come to an understanding on the issue. Several PA chief ministers told The Sunday Times they would not send letters to the respective governors, asking for an early dissolution and it appears that only the Wayamba Provincial Council will be dissolved today as scheduled at the end of its term. The PA Chief Ministers apparently want to serve their full term in office and without their consent the government and opposition leaders in parliament cannot act because it might run counter to the provisions in the 13th Amendment. Since the amendment was dropped at the last moment, despite the Supreme Court also giving it the nod, only Wayamba will be dissolved today and the remaining six councils will continue - the Central and Uva till April 25, Sabaragamuwa till May 3, Western May 4, North Central May 5 and Southern July 7. Southern Provincial Council Chief Minister H. G. Sirisena told The Sunday Times he had not given his consent to dissolve the provincial council along with the lapsing of the Wayamba council on Sunday and the council would continue till July 7. Most of the councillors, including UNP members had written to the Chief Minister asking him not to dissolve the council early. Mr. Sirisena also had sent a letter to President Chandrika Kumaratunga protesting against plans to dissolve the council earlier than scheduled. Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Mohan Ellawala said the Council would go on till the end of its term in May. He said he was not giving any letter of consent. Western province Chief Minister Reginold Cooray said he had not sent any letter and Governor Alavi Moulana told The Sunday Times he had not received such a letter by last afternoon and the council would continue. House Leader Lokubandara said the amendment to have all the PC polls on one day was not presented to Parliament but the government and opposition parties had reached what he described as an understanding to hold all PC polls on a single day. Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake told The Sunday Times that as the amendment to hold elections on a single day was not passed only the Wayamba Provincial Council would be dissolved today. Political sources said that because of the protest by the chief ministers and the constitutional complications arising from it, government and opposition leaders had reached an agreement that chief ministers be requested to send the letter of consent to the respective governors who would then dissolve the councils in terms of the constitution and pave the way for polls on the same day. Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse said protests from Southern Province Chief Minister had compelled the government and the opposition to drop the third amendment on holding all PC polls on a single day. The other amendments were, however, passed to restrict the total number of PC members to the current number and to hold the elections on a Saturday. MEP leader Dinesh Gunewardene who chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms said that despite the Government and the Opposition agreeing on the three amendments, changes were made at the last minute due to constitutional problems. |
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