First LG polls under new ward system in B’caloa

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

The nine local government bodies in the Batticaloa district whose term of office ceased on March 17 will be the first local government bodies to hold elections under the ward system as the Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry hopes to finalise the ward system by the end of June this year, Ministry Secretary R.A.A.K. Ranawaka said yesterday.

He said the Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry has informed the Eastern Provincial Council to appoint a Municipal Commissioner and Secretaries of the Pradeshiya Sabhas as competent authorities as the terms of these Local Government bodies lapsed on March 17.

The terms of office of these Councils which were due to cease on March 10, 2012 were extended by the Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister till March 17, 2013 and it cannot be further extended under the Local Government Elections Act.

Although nominations to these nine Local Government bodies were to be called in the first two weeks in January this year the Elections Commissioner could not call for nominations as the amended local government election laws came into force from January 1, 2013 and were gazetted by the Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister.

“Therefore, these nine Local Government bodies will be the first local government bodies to hold elections under the wards system as our Ministry hopes to finalise the demarcation and naming of the ward in each Local Government area in June this year”, Ranawaka said.

The term of office of the Batticaloa Municipal Council, Koralaipattu North PS, Koralaipattu PS, Eravurpattu PS, Manmunaipattu West PS, Manmunai South PS, Manmunai South West PS, Eravurpattu PS and Porathivupattu PS elections will be held under the new wards system as the terms of these Councils ceased on March 17.