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Northern PC polls:
Opposition politicians should wait for gazette proclamation
by S. Selvakumar
Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya on Friday told a group of
Opposition politicians that he cannot heed any of their requests until
President Mahinda Rajapaksa proclaims the Northern Provincial elections
through gazette notification. The Sunday Observer reliably understands
that the proclamation is due on June 24.
From June 24 midnight the Central and North Western Provincial
Councils would stand dissolved. It would also be the first PC election
to the North.
UNP General Secretary parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake, Democratic
People’s Front leader and Colombo MMC Mano Ganeshan, NSSP leader Dr.
Wickramabahu Karunaratne, TNA General Secretary Mavai Senathirajah and
UNP parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake were associated with the
Opposition group.
The TNA called for the re-introduction of the Independent Election
Commission and the Independent Police Commission abolished through the
18th Amendment to the Constitution. The Tamil party wants a civilian as
the Governor for the North instead of Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, an
ex-army officer.
However, the Elections Commissioner said these were matters for the
Government to consider and advised the Opposition group to speak to the
relevant authorities.
However, on a request to bring down Commonwealth and European Union
monitors to oversee the conduct of elections Deshapriya said that these
were within his purview and could be considered after another round of
talks with concerned political parties.
Opposition political parties told the Commissioner that they were
aware that the latter has no power over the 18th Amendment and the
removal of the Governor but they brought up this matter to convey their
sentiments to the government.
The Elections Commissioner would call for nominations one week after
the proclamation of elections to the three PCs. |
