PM and SJB clash over delay in holding PC and LG Polls

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) clashed in Parliament today over the delay in conducting Provincial Council and Local Government elections. 

The issue came up during today's debate on the head of expenditure of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government, of which the PM is the subject Minister. 

Opening the debate, Kurunegala District SJB MP J.C. Alawathuwala noted that Provincial Couhcil elections had not been held for years and the PCs were being administered by officials. Likewise, the Local Government elections too had not been held at the scheduled time, with the government citing a lack of funds as the reason. Local bodies too are now being managed by officials. The failure to hold the PC and LG polls as scheduled is a great injustice for the citizens of the country, who have been deprived the opportunity to elect their representatives to these crucial administrative bodies, Mr Alawathuwala insisted. 

“This situation has crippled administration at these bodies, resulting in the hopes of people being dashed,” he told the PM. 

Mr Alawathuwala said the SJB was prepared to support the holding of the PC election even under the old electoral system. 

Meanwhile, he noted that the President said that the economy has stablised when presenting the 2024 Budget. If that is the case, the government should hold the LG polls without delay, the SJB MP stressed. 

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena though, reminded that it was the legislation brought by the former Yahapalana government to change the PC election law that has now made it impossible to hold the PC election. "We warned the then government from the opposition that this Act would make it virtually impossible to administer the PCs or to hold the PC election and so it has now proved," said Mr Gunawardena. 

He said the government had earlier called a meeting of political parties to look into the possibility of holding tbe PC election in line with a request made by Northern political parties. However, the SJB failed to turn up for the meeting, though it is now talking about the delay in holding the election, he added. 

He noted that a lack of funds, legal issues surrounding the Election Commission and public opinion had impeded the holding of the Local Government election while there is also currently a court case being heard on the matter. Moreover, there is the need to change the electoral system of the LG election, especially to bring about a system that would enable the election of members who are directly responsible for their wards, the PM further said. 

“The government is boasting about changing the electoral system for Local Government elections. The Supreme Court has already given an order for the local government polls to be held, but the government is yet to hold them. The election is already eight months late. The people are eagerly awaiting the local government election, but the government is delaying it because they fear they will loose,” claimed Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella. 

“No matter how much he (Kiriella) is shouting, it is while he was Leader of the House that the Provincial Councils suffered irreparable damage. The reason we have not been able to hold the PC polls is due to the Act they brought,” the Premier insisted. 

Mr Alawathuwala said Parliament only needed to bring a resolution to hold the PC election. "We are prepared to support such a resolution even to hold the PC election under the old electoral system," he said.