LG polls: Political promises to be banned

By Chandani Kirinde

Politicians will be prohibited from making various promises to voters at local council elections in terms of a proposed new law based on the recommendations of a parliamentary select committee. Among the promises and activities prohibited are the announcement of financial grants, laying of foundation stones for roads, drinking water facilities and similar schemes or the granting of appointments in a manner that could influence the course of the elections in favour of the party in power.

The prohibitions will apply from the time of the announcement of an election until its conclusion. The new laws are to be enacted as part of the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms. A relevant paper and draft amendment have been submitted to the Cabinet by Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon.

The new laws will make it mandatory for candidates to submit a police certificate that he or she is not a convicted person for an offence of criminal nature with his nomination paper. The candidates will also be required to submit a declaration of their assets along with their nomination papers.

The new law will also ban MPs and Provincial Council members from entering a polling station or a counting centre except in their capacity as a voter or an authorised agent.

With the revision in the local government election system, the Wards process will be re-introduced. Elections will be largely based on the Firs-Past-the-Post (FPP) system with only 30 percent elected on the existing Proportional Representation (PR) system. An electronic voting system will also be introduced.