Govt keen to hold PC Polls after Shringla’s visit – Sumanthiran

On Oct 11, 2021

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Jaffna District Parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran said the Government has suddenly decided to hold the Provincial Council elections after the visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. He said that the election would have to be held by making minor amendments to the existing Provincial Council laws.

Speaking to the media in Vavuniya, the Member of Parliament said that he had submitted the necessary amendments to the Provincial Council Act to Parliament in 2019.

“I submitted the necessary amendments in 2019 and after agreeing to accept these amendments in Parliament, advice was sought from the Attorney General. Now the amendment bill can be passed and the Provincial Council election can be held accordingly,” he added.

Sumanthiran noted that the Government is keen to hold the Provincial Council elections after the visit of the Indian Foreign Secretary.

“Minister Basil Rajapaksa also discussed this. We also say that the Provincial Council election should be held.

Therefore, many members are of the opinion that the law could be amended immediately by using my Bill to hold Provincial Council Elections.”

He said that the legal source he had just prepared has been handed over to the Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and if the Cabinet takes a decision on this, he is hopeful it will be gazetted within the next few days.