Govt. to pass Local Government Elections Bill with two-thirds majority

• Once enacted EC can declare LG polls at any time

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

The government has decided to get the approval for the Local  Government Elections (Special Provisions) Bill in its present form by a  two-thirds majority, Minister of Provincial Councils and Local  Government A. H. M. H. Abayarathna said yesterday.   

Minister Abayarathna told Daily Mirror that the government  will go ahead and get the legislation approved by a special majority as  the Supreme Court has not recommended any amendments in its  determination.    

“We took the Bill at the consultative committee meeting, and it was decided to get the legislation proved by a special majority as  recommended by the Supreme Courts. We therefore will go ahead at get it approved by a two-thirds majority on Monday,” he said.   

“The Election Commission will be able to declare the local government election anytime once the Bill is enacted,” he added.   

Meanwhile, the opposition MP Rauff Hakeem said the Attorney  General has failed to provide proper advice to the government on the  Local Government Elections (Special Provisions) Bill.   

MP Hakeem said the Bill could have been enacted in the  House in one day had the Attorney General provided power advice to the  government. “Attorney General should not have waited till the opposition  went to courts and proved that the Bill was inconsistant with the  constitution,” the MP said. 

 
The MP was referring to the determination of the Supreme Court  that the Local Government Elections (Special Provisions) Bill is  inconsistent with the constitution as a whole while it is particularly  inconsistent with Article 12( 1) of the constitution.