The Local Government (LG) Election, which is due to be held in March 2023, has stirred up a number of controversies, with a faction calling for elections to be held while another wants it postponed.
Whilst differing opinions are common, the controversies are now based on an internal conflict in the Election Commission (EC) over the holding of the LG Election.
As reported in this paper on Friday (6), President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the EC to resolve its internal conflicts over holding the LG Election expeditiously and inform him of the collective agreement of the Commission on the matter.
The President met four members of the EC, including its Chairman Nimal Punchihewa, to discuss the LG Polls. One EC member did not participate in the meeting. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam too participated in the meeting.
Ceylon Today learns that the four EC members held different opinions on holding the election and it led the President telling them to resolve their internal conflicts. The President informed them to consult the Attorney General over legal barriers if any and let him know about the EC’s collective decision on the matter. The Attorney General said if there are legal matters, his Department will help the EC to resolve them.
The internal debacle has come to the spotlight in a backdrop where the EC has already called for nominations. As reported in Ceylon Today on Thursday (5), EC announced that the accepting of nominations, for the much-delayed LG Election, will commence on 18 January and close at 12 noon on 21 January.
Accordingly, the nominations will be called for 340 LG Institutions.
Meanwhile, applications for postal voting were being accepted from Thursday (5) to 23 January. On 22 December 2022, the Election Commission issued an Extraordinary Gazette appointing District Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers for the LG Elections.
Therefore, it is clear that the notice calling for nominations was issued amidst several debates on holding the election.
Further, the Government has also decided to consult the Attorney General on the reported indecision of EC members on holding the LG Election this year.
The majority of EC members are reportedly against Chairman Nimal Punchihewa’s opinion that the LG Polls should be held. Meanwhile, election monitoring organisations were of the view that many issues would arise due to the differing views of EC members, if nominations are called.
At least Rs 12 billion is required to hold the LG Election whereas only Rs 10 billion is allocated in Budget 2023, sources said. In such a backdrop, the majority of EC members reportedly believe that announcing an Election date should be delayed even if nominations are called. However, according to EC sources, the EC Chairman believes the Finance Ministry would provide additional funds.
To add to the saga, according to an article published in this paper on Friday (6), a tense situation erupted in the Parliament Chamber on Thursday (5) after Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena presented a ministerial report on MP Premnath C. Dolawatte’s Private Member’s Bill on amending the LG Election Act.
The Opposition slammed Gunawardena’s report as a sinister attempt to postpone the LG Poll which is scheduled for March this year.
However, the PM said he simply presented the report as per the Standing Orders of Parliament. Meanwhile, Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake questioned the Government on whether the correct procedure is being followed with regard to Dolawatte’s Bill.
Prior to these controversies, certain Members of Parliament petitioned Courts calling for the LG Election to be held as scheduled.
The petitions were filed by MPs Dayasiri Jayasekara, Lakshman Kiriella, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, M.A. Sumanthiran, Ranjith Madduma Bandara and G.L. Pieris, instructed by Attorney-at-Law Sandun Gamage.
Whereas, a Petition was also filed seeking an order suspending the holding of the LG Election in March 2023 observing that based on information received from the EC, it costs over Rs 10 billion to hold the Election and that holding an election amidst an economic crisis could be catastrophic.
It is more than evident that the internal conflicts should be cleared and a common decision has to be taken on whether or not an election should be held in two months, in considering all the pros and cons of doing so.