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| Sunday, 6 January 2002 |
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Local govt. polls to go for fresh date by Don Asoka Wijewardena The Commissioner of Elections is expected to fix a new date for the Local Government election, following a request by the Minister of Ports Development and Muslim Affairs, Rauf Hakeem for another date, on account of the original date being Friday, a holy day for the community. The Commissioner was also said to be concerned about a March 1 election, as was earlier scheduled by the government, since holding election on a Friday calls for an additional workload. Sources at the Ministry of Local Government said that the programme of the local government elections will be tabled in parliament on January 8th and that the Commissioner will determine the date of the election thereafter. Alick Aluvihare, Minister of Local Government, told the Sunday Observer that the Commissioner of Elections and the Ministry of Local Government will make the necessary arrangements to hold a free and fair elections after parliament authorises the election programme. The Minister said that elections will also be held for the North and East on the same day as the rest of the provinces. He also said that the local government election would cost the government approximately Rs. 600 million, exceeding the general election cost by Rs 100 million. M. C. Arunthavachelvam, Deputy Commissioner (Elections),said that in accordance with the Election Law, local government elections will have to be held before April, since the present term of local government administration expires on April 14, 2002. However, he said that date of the election which has to be decided by the Commissioner, who will also announce a date for nominations. Close to 12.4 million voters will once again cast their votes to elect members to 18 municipal councils, 36 urban councils and 257 Pradesiya Sabhas for the next term of office. Security measures that were in place for the general elections will once again be imposed with the assistance of the police department. The Deputy Commissioner also said that relevant officials will be assigned to monitor the polls at the request of different political parties. Gamini Nawaratne, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Elections), said that the police will handle all security arrangements after the date of the elections has been announced. |
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