Musthapa blames MR Govt for LG polls delay

25 November 2017 02:31 pm - 16 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Faizer Musthapha said the joint opposition and the JVP submit no-confidence motions against the previous government and the former subject minister and not against him.

He said the entire controversy surrounding the conduct of the local government polls and all this delay was caused by them.

The minister told Daily Mirror the two parties must first realize who was responsible for the delay and as to who attempted to use the delimitation process to their advantage by hoodwinking the political parties, the voters and the officials.

“The opposition has made me a scapegoat even after I had used my powers to expedite the delimitation process and fast track the conduct of local government polls. Party leaders, including the opposition and the JVP did not protest when I appointed the five-member all party official committee chaired by Asoka Peiris to rectify the shortcoming in the delimitation report released in August 2015. All political parties supported the LG amendments when I presented them in Parliament. Therefore, I don’t understand why they want to submit a no-confidence motion against me after the Court of Appeal stayed the gazette notification on a petition filed by a few,” the minister said. "The delimitation committee report was submitted on June 19, 2015. However, we received more than 1,000 complaints that the delimitation process was flawed. As a government member I appointed a committee to demarcate wards as permitted by law. An all-party conference was also held recently with the participation of the President and the Prime Minister with regard to this matter. The Law is such that the delimitation process is not completed until the appeals are concluded. Therefore, I believe that the Law and the prevailing exigencies demanded that the local government elections be postponed until the finalization of the delimitation process.

The minister highlighted the fact that the delay in conducting LG polls originated from the first delimitation report which was prepared under the previous government.

‘It was a report made in an air-conditioned room on the instructions of the former minister Basil Rajapaksa. He wanted to use the delimitation report to keep all LG bodies under the SLFP. That is why all political parties including the UNP, JVP, TNA and all other minority parties vehemently opposed it. I like to ask the JVP and the JO where they were when the Rajapaksa government did this big blunder and thus delaying LG polls for more than two years,” the minister asked.

He vowed to expose all those who were responsible for this situation and challenged the JVP and the JO to win the no-confidence motion if possible. (Sandun A Jayasekera)

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Comments - 16

Pramod Fernando Saturday, 25 November 2017 07:34 PM

Are they still in power? Shame on you Mustafa.

Lapaya Sunday, 26 November 2017 07:41 AM

After 3 years still talking about MR's govt: work. What all of SLFP, UNP, JVP, and TNA did for this. All parties are in govt side. Only JO agents govt. Bullshit Nana.

Unchikun Sunday, 26 November 2017 09:49 AM

Musthapa blames MR. MR blames RW and the circus goes on.

mnsmart Sunday, 26 November 2017 10:03 AM

even the day light central bank robbery too should be blamed on MR?

Senewi Sunday, 26 November 2017 10:14 AM

An evasive action.

zaman Sunday, 26 November 2017 11:36 AM

I am sure Yaha P. will back again election with other party...

Pramod Fernando Sunday, 26 November 2017 01:58 PM

Yahapala Naaya Yanawa these days.

chandra Sunday, 26 November 2017 11:41 AM

Musthapa... Musthapa dont worry Musthapa people will teach you a lesson. via DM Android App

DIMUTHU Sunday, 26 November 2017 01:38 PM

Ooooo come stop talking about MR and his govt...u do ur job...

Wimal Sunday, 26 November 2017 02:49 PM

Ko me sirisena... Sirisenata meva penne nedda

ceylon Sunday, 26 November 2017 02:52 PM

sirisena ranil both afraid for elections.did nothing for three years.only did protecting theives. via DM Android App

Sunil Sunday, 26 November 2017 04:53 PM

What shameless explanations. Even if the MR regime had committed some misdeeds, wasn't two and a half years enough to correct them.

p nonis Sunday, 26 November 2017 05:35 PM

This is a Bankrupt Govt, who has no money even to run the Local Governments.You should resign Mr Musthapa you are the biggest joke in this dragging this and blaming others.Backboneless politicians, still blaming the previous regime. Totally disgraceful and shameful, leading the masses to a total disaster.what is your budget deficit Trillions now

Dhammika Sunday, 26 November 2017 06:55 PM

MR is making a mockery in Sri Lankan politics by coming back to politics being the head of state for 2 terms and loosing and looting the country with the rest of the family . But what has the present govt. done to punish the looters ? . NOTHING ! .So the answer is that the govt after over 2 years in power has failed miserably .

Sambo Sunday, 26 November 2017 08:11 PM

You blame MR. MR blames you. Whom are you guys hoodwinking. This country would be better off if had a military rule. You politicians are waste to space and ruining this country more by the day.

OBSERVER Monday, 27 November 2017 10:04 AM

I JUST LEARNED THAT STILL MR IS PRESIDENT IN SRI LANKA.

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Musthapa blames MR Govt for LG polls delay

Comments - 16

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