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Parties disagree on date for local government elections, EC weighs in
View(s):By Ishu Bandara
Opposition parties and the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) have taken up different positions on the conduct of local government elections.
Many of the opposition parties have requested the Election Commission that nominations should be called after the budget debate is concluded, but the NPP wants the nomination dates announced earlier.
Some opposition party members claimed that the NPP government is trying to prevent opposition parties from forming alliances by pushing for an early nomination date adding that by limiting the time available for discussions and negotiations, the government is attempting to weaken potential opposition coalitions ahead of the election.
However, Election Commission Chairman R M A L Rathnayake told the Sunday Times that while there are suggestions from both the opposition parties and the ruling party, the commission makes its decisions based on the Local Government Election Act.
Opposition party MPs visiting the Election Commission to discuss the Local Government poll date
He emphasised that their decisions are not influenced or interrupted by factors such as the budget or any other external matters.
“All the opposition parties met with the Election Commissioner and requested an extension for calling nominations until the last possible moment. They asked us not to announce the nomination date until the budget process in Parliament was completed. On the other hand, the NPP urged us to announce it earlier. We consider all suggestions, but we proceed in accordance with the Local Government Election Act,” Mr Rathnayake said.
“We are scheduled to hold our regular Election Commission committee meeting next Thursday, February 27. However, this does not necessarily mean that we will decide the election date on that day. We may convene earlier and determine when the LG election will be held,” he said.
Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake said: “Neither the ruling party nor the opposition should interfere with the Election Commission’s decisions. We are committed to conducting elections in accordance with its laws and regulations, without skipping any responsibilities. With the Ministry of Local Government gazetting the LG election to be held before June 2, my team and I, as the Commissioner General, are fully prepared to conduct the election whenever required.”
The Local Government Election, initially scheduled for 2023, was postponed after the nomination process had begun. Several political parties petitioned the court, arguing that it was unreasonable to use the same nomination lists for the 2025 election. In response, the court ruled that a fresh nomination process must be confirmed by a two-thirds parliamentary vote.
The Bill of Nomination was confirmed with a two-thirds majority in Parliament and signed by the Speaker on February 17, enabling the Election Commission to proceed with preparations for the Local Government Election.
Following the Speaker’s endorsement of the bill, the Ministry of Local Government formally gazetted it, marking the official commencement of the election process.
Mr Ratnayake urged all parties to prioritise youth and women’s participation in the LG election. He specifically emphasised that the absence of 25% youth representation in the nomination list could result in its cancellation.
Major political parties, commenting about their preparations for the upcoming Local Government Election, declared that all of them are preparing for the polls.
Former Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) told the Sunday Times, “Last weekend, we conducted interviews for the candidates. The selected candidates were then handed over to the seat organisers, who will further shortlist them. However, the final decision is made by the National Nomination Board.”
Commenting on the ongoing discussions regarding a collaboration between the SJB and the United National Party (UNP), Mr Karunathilaka said, “Right now, we are focused on preparing the SJB party list. Our discussions with the UNP are for a long-term partnership, not the upcoming election. However, the talks are still ongoing and have not been finalized yet.” He added, “If the other party has potential candidates, we are open to considering them.”
According to him, the LG election is likely to be held in the first week of May. He added that it would be better if the election is announced after the budget debate concludes on March 21.
MP Kavinda Jayawardena of the SJB told the Sunday Times, “Our party has been preparing for the LG election since it was due. Our party leadership and working committee have provided clear guidelines on how we should prepare our candidates and the selection process, with a special focus on prioritising youth and women.”
He said holding an election is important, it should not interfere with education, especially exams. “We must prioritise education and ensure that daily livelihoods are not disrupted.”
Commenting on the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s (SLPP) preparations for the LG election, former state Minister Indika Anuruddha said, “We are currently reviewing nomination lists district by district and managing the application process, which remains open to anyone interested. The process is in its final stages, particularly in Gampaha, Colombo, Kalutara, and Puttalam.”
“We believe the election date may be at the end of April or the beginning of May,” he said.
He said there are no plans to change the leader of the SLPP. However, he noted that there will be significant changes in some other party positions.
Former Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) told the Sunday Times, “We are now ready to contest the election under the SLFP and its alliance, using the chair symbol, in every local council across the country. We stand with former President Maithripala Sirisena and invite anyone willing to join our alliance.”
“We are not going to the Election Commission to request an extension of the election announcement date, as we know elections are usually scheduled according to the ruling government. Therefore, we are preparing for the election and ready to face it at any time,” Mr Alagiyawanna said.
MP Nizam Kariappar, Secretary of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, told the Sunday Times, “We are fully prepared for the election. We have already selected a few candidates, but some of our previous candidates will not be contesting again, as we are prioritising opportunities for youth and women. We are also looking for new leadership among the younger generation, with an eye on the next parliamentary elections. Additionally, we have introduced a digital platform and uploaded the applications online, allowing applicants to apply through the online system,” he added.
Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government Chandana Abeyratne said nearly 75 members of parliament are no longer in the nomination list now and some have gone abroad, while others are stepping aside to give opportunities to youth.
“These vacancies need to be filled, and in most cases, we will rely on the previous nomination list. Once the Election Commission issues the gazette, we plan to finalise the list. Our decision is to hold an early election, and the budget will not influence it at any time,” he said.
However, according to reliable sources, the LG Election is slated to be held on April 26.
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