14 February 2023 01:06 pm
In what seems to be an indication that the local government election may be postponed, the Election Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa has informed Party General Secretaries that it will not be possible to distribute postal vote ballot papers from tomorrow (February 15).
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjit Madduma Bandara told Daily Mirror that the Polls Chief confirmed that the distribution of postal vote ballot papers scheduled to be distributed tomorrow had been halted.
“We told him not to go back on his word given to the Supreme Court. He assured the Supreme Court that the local government election will be held as planned and we told him to keep his word,” Madduma Bandara said.
“The polls chief also told us that he is not getting sufficient support from the Attorney General and indicated that he would refer the matter to the Supreme Court once again,” Madduma Bandara added.
UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said the polls chief has indicated that the election will not be held as scheduled.
“The Polls Chief confirmed that the government printers have informed him that ballot papers will not be printed until due payments are made,” he said. (Yohan Perera)