The Election Commission is unable to hold the local government polls on April 25 without receiving another Rs. 100 million by next week, its chairman Nimal G. Punchihewa has told Neth News.
The cost of holding the election is estimated at Rs. 11 billion.
A written request for funding sent by the EC to the finance secretary has been referred to president Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the finance minister, said Punchihewa. The finance secretary has informed him that his approval alone is insufficient to release the funds.
The LG polls, originally set for March 09 had to be postponed for a lack of funding.
The Supreme Court has issued an interim injunction against the finance secretary and the attorney general against withholding funds for the election.
Meanwhile, local election monitor PAFFREL’s executive director Rohana Hettiarachchi warned a grave constitutional crisis would arise if the executive, legislature and the judiciary attempt to supersede each other.