Eastern Provincial polls in April

Nominations for the Provincial Council elections in the east are to be called by the end of March, after the completion of the local government polls there, Government sources said.

They said President Mahinda Rajapaksa had instructed the Elections Commissioner to announce dates for nominations for theEastern Provincial Council polls by the end of the month with the election date set for as early as April. SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena and UPFA Chairman Susil Premjayantha are to hold talks with alliance partners to work out plans and strategies, party officials said. The local council polls in the Batticaloa district will be held on March 10.