EC says not possible to hold elections on March 9

The Election Commission has submitted a motion to the Supreme Court, that  under the current circumstances it was not possible to keep to the March 9 schedule to conduct the Local Government elections.

The Commission has cited the delay in completing the printing of ballot papers, the failure to provide adequate fuel supplies and other arrangements for the failure to keep to the schedule.

The EC had previously informed Courts that it was making all arrangements to conduct the elections on March 9.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court which took up two petitions filed by opposition politicians calling to issue an ruling on the EC to conduct elections in time, noted that such ruling was not required as the Commission had assured that elections could be held in time.

Meanwhile Security has been strengthened at the Government Printer’s office in Colombo. More than 100 army personnel and 50 policemen have been deployed.

The Government Printer, Ms Gangani Liyanage had called for additional security .