Gazette on declaring Sainthamaruthu as UC suspended

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

The cabinet on Wednesday (19) has decided to withhold the extraordinary gazette issued last Saturday (15) by the Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon declaring Sainthamaruthu in the Eastern Province as an Urban Council, cabinet spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.   

Minister Gunawardana said the government would appoint an expert committee to make a survey and report back on areas in the country where new local government bodies have to be established on geological, political, social and demographic conditions.   

“For instance, Homagama electorate that I represent has a population of over 200,000.  I received 106,000 votes at the last Parliamentary polls contesting from the UPFA. I believe Homagama needs a separate Pradeshiya Sabha in consideration of its population alone.