Election Commission to meet party representatives, as concerns over funds grow

Election Commission members are set to meet with Political Party Secretaires tomorrow amidst concerns over release of funds for the conduct of the Local Government elections on March 9.

The meeting has been scheduled to discuss preparations for the Polls.

The meeting comes amidst a fresh communication from the Government Printer to the Elections Commission that ballot papers will not be printed if due payments for the printing is not made.

Political parties also have expressed doubts whether polls could be held, as scheduled as the release of funds for the preparations have been slow and as a result the printing schedule has been delayed.

Among the politicians who have cast doubt are Member of Parliaments Patali Champika Ranawaka, Udaya Gammanpila and several members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Mr Ranawaka addressing a meeting in Panadura said that the government, after several failed attempts to delay the elections, is now working on a plan to refrain from providing funds for the elections.

He said following a favourable position taken by the judiciary that the elections should go ahead, the cabinet is now trying to block the release of funds for the elections and thereby delay the election.

He said that Commission has a series of duties to be performed before the elections and among them were the preparations for the postal vote, preparation of booths and distribution of polling cards.

He said the poll cars should be distributed by February 19, but the cards have not even be printed as yet.

Mr Ranawaka said that going by other expenses incurred by the Government they could not claim that money was not available.

MP Udaya Gammanpila addressing a news conference today said that since the Treasury is delaying the release of funds, the next option was for the Election Commission to seek a court ruling that funds should be released for the conduct of the election.

He said the Government printer needs Rs 200 million for printing, but only Rs 40 million has been released. 

He said it was the duty of President to release funds for the conduct of the election.

In a related development seven organization involved in monitoring elections has called the Treasury to release funds for the election. They have written to the Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena.