EC to reschedule Local Government polls dates

The Election Commission (EC) is set to reschedule the postal voting and local government election date following consultations with political parties today.

Commission members meeting political party secretaries to discuss rescheduling election dates as the commission has not received funds to hold Local government elections. At the meeting it was decided that the commission would not cabinet postal vote’s onMarch 28, 29, 30,31and April 03.

The Chairman of the Election Commission, Nimal Punchihewa pointed out that he informed secretaries of political parties that they have not received funds to hold the election even though it was decided to hold the election on April 25.

At the meeting the political party secretaries had made four separate suggestions regarding the local government election.

One of the suggestions made was to postpone election to a fixed date. Other ideas were to hold election after securing the background and facilities, hold elections at the given date as petitions filed on the matter, and that the executive, legislative body as well as other stakeholders should discuss and come to an understanding and decide on a date to have the election.

 “Even though date was fixed for the election, the finance Ministry did not obtain the funds for election, as a result money had not been released for election activities, despite the court ruling”, he said.

He added that the commission would collect the views of party secretaries and discuss with District Secretaries of a new date for the election.

Mr Punchihewa also added that the commission is planning to have another discussion among their members to re schedule the dates to hold elections.