LG Commissioners entitled to exercise powers in the council: EC

The Local Government Commissioners are entitled to exercise their authority in appointing chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of the local bodies when the respective sessions are in progress, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake said.   

His remarks come in the wake of recent heated sessions during which the role and decisions of Local Government Commissioners were questioned during the appointment of heads of local bodies.   

“As per the Elections Act, it is the Local Government Commissioner who is legally vested with the power to appoint mayors, deputy mayors, chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of local government institutions,” Ratnayake said.   

“These powers have been clearly laid out in the law,” he added