Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath said the Local Government elections are planned to be held early next year.
He said that the government is of the view that it is better to amend the Local Government Elections Act and call for new nominations and conduct the Local Government Elections and that a decision will be taken after discussions with other parties in the Parliament.
Speaking to the media in Akurana area, Minister Vijitha Herath also said, “The Supreme Court has given a decision to hold local government elections soon.
The money has not been allocated for another election this year. Therefore, we are ready to hold local government elections early next year.
Although nominations were called, elections were not held for about two years. By now, some of the nominees have died. Others have gone abroad. Some people have changed politically. We are of the opinion that it would be better if the Local Government Elections Act is amended after discussions with other parties in the Parliament and new nominations are called and LG elections are held after that. For that, we are looking into the situation whether it is possible to go for elections after consulting the views of other parties and amending the Act.
“We are ready to take the next step by consulting the Election Commission whether it can be done without conflicting with the Supreme Court decision. The budget should be presented in early March. We have intended to hold Local Government elections before that. The date has not been decided yet. There is some legal obstacle to holding the LG elections. The Delimitation Commission report has not been passed by Parliament. We are of the position that holding provincial council elections according to the existing proportional system is the most appropriate. Parliament should take a decision on that. It is with that decision that the date of holding the provincial council election has to be decided”.
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