Election Commission (EC) Chairman Attorney Nimal Punchihewa has assured all Opposition political parties that the Local Government (LG) elections will be held prior to 20 March 2023, in response to a letter signed and submitted by the said parties.
Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa told the media outside the Election Commission in Rajagiriya yesterday (15) that Punchihewa and all the Members/Commissioners of the Election Commission are working towards holding the LG elections on time despite efforts by the Government to delay the same.
“This is an election required by the law, and we have been assured that by 20 March 2023, the new LG authorities will be established. This is good news for the public, as this election will win back the public’s power to vote, their sovereignty, and their right to democracy,” said Premadasa.
Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary and “independent” Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara stressed that the Government should not hinder the Election Commission’s actions to expedite this election.
“Punchihewa is doing all that he can, carrying out the necessary steps to defeat the efforts of the Government to delay the election. He will definitely schedule it before 20 February 2023, because it takes about a month to sort out appointments, which means that we will have nine weeks to nominate names. By the first week of December 2022, the decision will be announced. He pointed out that the Government might bring up the issue of funds, so I ask the Government not to obstruct any of their actions, because this is important for the democracy of this country,” he said.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman and “independent” Opposition MP Prof. G.L. Peiris affirmed the same, stating that all LG bodies will be ready by 20 March 2023.
“Punchihewa is in a very clear position. According to the law including the Constitution, it is a mandatory duty of the Election Commission to schedule an election. This is in no way a trustee Commission. Even though the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was passed, the interim clause says very clearly that the Election Commission has the duty of taking necessary action to hold an election. They cannot function according to anyone else’s instructions, as they must make independent decisions,” he stated.
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader and “independent” Opposition MP Udaya Gammanpila similarly expressed his confidence in Punchihewa’s assurance.
“All the parties of the Opposition jointly asked the Election Commission today to defeat the effort by the Government to postpone this election and to hold the election at the right time. They will definitely announce their decision between 6 December 2022, and 9 January 2023,” said Gammanpila.
Condemning the Government’s alleged plans to postpone the Local Government (LG) elections and resolving to fight the same collectively, a meeting organised by the Freedom People’s Congress was held on 20 October with the participation of all Opposition parties except the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP), which however has agreed to back the Opposition’s push to conduct the LG polls.
The country’s key Opposition parties alleged last week that the recently appointed National Delimitation Committee chaired by former Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya is a ploy by the Government to postpone the LG elections, and therefore, urged Deshapriya to not be a “partner” to such a conspiracy, while Deshapriya responded by stating that he does not wish to comment on the matter, as it would be unethical to do so.
This was after Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, in his capacity as Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, issued an extraordinary gazette appointing a five-member National Delimitation Committee for the demarcation of wards for Local Authorities. J.R.V. Dissanayake, W.M.M.R. Adikari, Dr. K. Thavalingam, and I.A. Hameed serve as members of the said committee along with Deshapriya. The National Delimitation Committee is effective from 1 November 2022 to 28 February 2023, as per the gazette notification.