EC says Political parties will engage govt. to conduct pC polls

• Provincial councils had remained defunct since 2017
• Government should either complete the delimitation process to have the polls under the new system or revert to the old system
• All agreed to engage the government to lay the groundwork for conducting the elections

By Kelum Bandara

Election Commission’s Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday the political parties resolved to engage the government for the conduct of the provincial elections, at a recent meeting with his office.  

The provincial councils had remained defunct since 2017 due to a technical issue in the new Act that provides for the conduct of the elections under a mixed system. The government should either complete the delimitation process to have the polls under the new system or to revert to the old system by enacting a new piece of legislation. Mr. Deshapriya said his office held separate meeting with the parties with and without parliamentary representation. “All agreed to engage the government to lay the groundwork for conducting the elections”, he said.