by Mirudhula Thambiah in The Morning, Mar 8, 2023
Following a meeting with Government Printer Gangani Liyanage, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne, and other relevant authorities, in which Secretary to the Treasury and Finance Ministry Mahinda Siriwardana was absent, the Election Commission (EC) has decided 25 April 2023, as the new date to conduct the Local Government poll, in keeping with the Supreme Court’s (SC) recent and related order.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, EC Chairman Attorney Nimal G. Punchihewa said yesterday (7): “We cannot wait until the Treasury releases funds. The SC order tells the Treasury to release funds. We have asked for funds and if it is not given, we can report it to the SC. Siriwardana didn’t attend today (7). He has informed via a letter that he has to attend a security-related meeting. He has asked for another date to meet.”
He further said that the new dates were fixed in consideration of postal voting and the main voting which should be scheduled in a specific time period.
He also noted that Opposition Parliamentarians also met EC representatives yesterday, during which they emphasised holding the LG poll as soon as possible.
Although Opposition political parties stated on 5 March in a letter to the EC that they do not see any reason for the EC to consult Siriwardana or anyone else, now that the EC is bound to comply with the interim order issued by the SC, Punchihewa said yesterday that he will meet Siriwardana since the consultation is important as it is the Treasury that releases the needed allocations to conduct the LG poll.
On 3 March, the SC issued an interim order to Siriwardana, preventing him from withholding the funds allocated through the 2023 Budget for election purposes.
The SC three-member bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Janaka de Silva, and Priyantha Fernando gave this order while also providing permission to take up a fundamental rights petition filed by SJB General Secretary MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara for hearing. The bench ordered the parties to file the objections and counter objections related to the petition in accordance with SC rules and ordered that the hearing of the petition be held on 26 May. The court also issued another interim order preventing the retention of funds allocated to the Department of Government Printing for the purpose of printing ballot papers.
The EC announced on 3 March that it would convene a special meeting yesterday with regard to the 2023 LG poll, which was initially scheduled to be held tomorrow (9) but was later postponed.
Following the interim order issued by the SC, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said that the Ministry would respect and act according to the decision. “We should abide by the court’s decision. It is our responsibility. Therefore, as the Finance Ministry, we respect the decision and will act accordingly,” he added.
https://www.themorning.lk/articles/58E5G5Z7mE3djuQnbBsH
