Political Parties have said that it is unacceptable for authorities to claim they have no funds to print the ballot papers required for the upcoming Local Government Election.
The National Election Commission said on Monday (13) that the Government Printer has stated that if funds are not provided ballot papers will not be printed, posing a fresh hurdle to the upcoming Local Government Elections scheduled to be held on the 9th of March.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on Monday (13) tweeted that the government’s attempts to delay elections & subvert democracy are a blatant attack on all Sri Lankans’ rights & our nation’s integrity.
He said that democracy is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right.
“We will not stand idly by while the government undermines the people’s will and threatens our country’s future. We demand immediate action to ensure free and fair elections and the protection of our democracy,” he added.
General Secretary of the United People’s Freedom Alliance Thilanga Sumathipala said that failure to provide funds for an election that has already been announced is a violation of the country’s constitution.
He said that legal action can be instituted against state officials over the matter.
General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Dayasiri Jayasekera told News 1st that immediate legal action must be taken over such attempts.