While stating that the primary objective of the Election Commission (EC) is to hold the Local Government (LG) poll, EC Chairman Attorney Nimal G. Punchihewa stated yesterday (2) that at today’s (3) Commission meeting, the members will discuss on a suitable date to hold the postponed election, whereafter, the Returning Officers would decide to schedule the specific date depending on the situation and thereafter gazette the same.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, Punchihewa said: “Returning Officers decide the date of the LG poll, not us. The EC advises them that a particular date is suitable and they make the final decision accordingly and gazette it. However, the scheduling of a suitable date would depend on the prevalent environment”.
When queried regarding whether the election would be scheduled for May as claimed by National People’s Power Leader and Opposition MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently or whether it will be further delayed, he said: “Some political parties want to expedite the election and some parties want to delay. These are the requirements of the political parties. But, our role in the EC is to consider a suitable date for the election. We cannot comment on the particular month or date without discussing it.”
Last week, Punchihewa wrote to Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, requesting him to intervene to urge the Treasury to release the funds required to conduct the LG election. The EC decided at a meeting held last week, to not hold the LG poll on 9 March as scheduled due to reasons beyond the control of the Commission. The EC further stated that a new date for the LG poll would be declared today.
Meanwhile, a two-day adjournment debate has been sought by the Opposition on 9 and 10 March with regard to the postponement of the LG election while the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will submit a resolution to Parliament to take up a vote regarding whether the funds for the LG poll should be released or not.