LG elections only after Delimitation Commission report

by Isuri Yasasmin Kaviratne

The government is not willing to conduct Local Council elections in sections, Minister of Justice and Buddhasasana, Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa said in response to a call by People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFEREL) to conduct elections in areas that are not under dispute.

The Minister said when the elections are held in some provinces the results will have a bearing on the voters in the other areas.

“Thus they will be influenced when they vote, and that violates the fundamental concepts of democracy.”

The difference between holding elections on a common date island-wide and separately would be about two to three months, and that the government will proceed with the elections as soon as the delimitation report is finalised.

The Elections Commission responded to a call by the Executive Director, PAFFEREL, Rohana Hettiarachchi last week, demanding that elections be held in areas that are not under dispute and cleared by the Delimitation Commission.

The Elections Commission had assured him that if the Parliament issues an interim report, they are willing to proceed with the elections in the areas that have been cleared.

Hettiarachchi said that PAFFEREL believes the postponement of elections violates the basic democratic rights of the people and they find it difficult to proceed with many matters that concern their day-to-day lives due to the elections not being held on time.