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Proposed ‘postponement of PC polls’: State Minister may have erred – EC Chief

Published

5 years ago

2021/12/17

Sahan Weerasooriya

LG polls likely to be delayed: Polls monitors alarmed

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Election Commission (EC) Chief Nimal G. Punchihewa yesterday (16) said Provincial Council polls couldn’t be put off through the intervention of the Cabinet. Attorney-at-law Punchihewa emphasised that there was no provision under any circumstances for the Cabinet to request the EC to postpone PC polls though Local Government polls could be put off.

LG bodies comprise Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas.

The EC Chairman said so when The Island sought his response to Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Roshan Ranasinghe’s recent declaration that he submitted a Cabinet paper seeking postponement of the Provincial Council polls by one year.

A statement dated Dec 15 issued by State Minister’s office quoted him as having told a workshop for Local Government members at Laya Leisure at Kukukeganga, 09 Dec. that the EC would be soon informed of the Cabinet decision. Lawyer Punchihewa said that perhaps a genuine mistake had been made by the State Minister or the Ministry when issuing a statement as regards the event held at Kukuleganga.

The EC consists of Nimal G. Punchihewa, S.B. Divaratne, M.M. Mohamad, K.P.P. Pathirana and Mrs. P.S.M. Charles.

When the EC’s response was brought to the notice of the State Minister’s Office, a spokesperson said that as the Minister was overseas he couldn’t be contacted immediately but clarification would be made soon. The State Ministry didn’t respond to The Island query by the time this edition went to press.

Responding to another query, Punchihewa asserted that perhaps the State Minister had referred to a government decision to put off the forthcoming Local Government polls. Asked to explain, EC Chairman said: “The EC conducted the last LG poll on Feb. 10, 2018. The LG bodies were constituted on March 20, 2018. Therefore, the next round of elections would have to be conducted before March 20, 2022.”

Punchihewa recently told the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms that the EC was in the process of preparing to hold LG election scheduled for late March 2022. Punchihewa said that the EC needed at least four months to make preparations for the LG polls.

The EC Chief said that he hadn’t been so far informed of a move to put off LG polls.

Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunuwardena’s Office spokesperson quoted Punchihewa as having told the PSC that if LG poll was to be conducted in late March under the existing system, the date had to be announced in January 2022.

The PSC consists of Dinesh Gunawardena, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Prof. G.L. Peiris, Pavitradevi Wanniarachchi, Douglas Devananda, Wimal Weerawansa, Basil Rajapaksa, Ali Sabry, PC, Jeewan Thondaman, Rauff Hakeem, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Kabir Hashim, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Mano Ganesan, M.A. Sumanthiran, Madura Vithanage and Sagara Kariyawasam.

The PSC headed by Minister Gunawardena is scheduled to meet on Dec 20. The spokesperson said that in spite of the prorogation of the Parliament, the PSC on electoral reforms would continue.

Leading polls monitoring group PAFFREL said that they were quite shocked by the move to put off LG polls. Acknowledging that State Minister Ranasinghe had inadvertently referred to scheduled LG polls as PC election,

PAFFREL spokesperson Rohana Hettiarachchi questioned the rationale in putting off LG polls. Hettiarachchi who also represents the March 12 Movement said that postponement of elections under whatever circumstances undermined democracy. The official said that a statement would be issued soon on the issue at hand.

The yahapalana government delayed LG polls and then scuttled the law pertaining to PC polls. Currently, there is no law available to hold the elections.

The original law enacted in terms of the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987 was formulated in 1988 but due to issues that arose from it, the last government proposed changes. Those changes were included in a new PC Elections Bill No 17 of 2017 but lawmakers on both sides disagreed with the provisions.

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Flood warning issued to the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara

Published

48 mins ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

Due to heavy rainfall received in the upper catchment areas of the Mahaweli River over the past few hours, there is a risk of minor flooding in the low-lying areas surrounding the Mahaweli River within the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara.Residents living in the above mentioned areas and motorists using roads passing through these areas are urged to exercise extreme caution and remain highly vigilant regarding the prevailing situation.

Furthermore, residents living in close proximity to the Mahaweli River in these areas are advised to remain highly alert to the situation and take all necessary precautions to protect themselves from any potential flooding.The relevant disaster management authorities are requested to take all necessary measures in response to this situation.

Latest News

Landslide Red Alerts issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya

Published

55 mins ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide Red Alerts to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya effective from 14:00 hrs on 20.09.2026 To 14:00 hrs on 21.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, Dehiowita, Aranayake, Deraniyagala, Mawanella and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Kothmale West, Kotmale East, Ambagamuwa and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district

LEVEL II [AMBER] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka in the Colombo district, Nagoda, Thawalama and Neluwa in the Galle district, Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara, Walallawita and Agalawatta in the Kalutara district, Ganga Ihala Korale in the Kandy district, Bulathkohupitiya and Kegalle in the Kegalle district, Akuressa and Pitabeddara in the Matara district, Thalawakele in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kuruwita and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Niyagama and Baddegama in the Galle district, Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Ingiriya in the Kalutara district, Udapalatha and Yatinuwara in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Warakapola and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Kotapola, Pasgoda and Athuraliya in the Matara district, and Eheliyagoda, Kalawana and Elapatha in the Ratnapura district.

News

Development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common goal – PM

Published

3 hours ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common, people-oriented objective.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in a discussion held on Friday [September 18] at the Western Province Council Auditorium to review the progress of the development project to rehabilitate Rathmalana Kandawala Road and the drainage system on either side of the road, within the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council limits in the Colombo District.

The project, which commenced on September 10, 2026, is scheduled to be completed before June 30, 2027. Implemented by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA), the project includes the construction of a bridge at a cost of Rs. 64 million, the rehabilitation of the drainage system at a cost of Rs. 930 million, and the rehabilitation of the road at a cost of Rs. 115 million.

The Prime Minister also paid special attention to the progress of the responsibilities assigned to the Western Province Council, the Irrigation Department and the Ratmalana Divisional Secretariat in accordance with decisions taken at the previous committee meeting. Attention was also given to the current status of the plans being carried out by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLRDC), as well as the construction and maintenance activities being undertaken by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA).

Commending the expedite and commendable progress of the project, the Prime Minister particularly appreciated the commitment demonstrated by officials of the relevant government institutions to work in close coordination with one another and in collaboration with the political authority.

The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of taking measures well in advance to control flooding and minimise its impact on Colombo and several other districts in view of the rainy weather that may affect the Western Province during the latter part of this year.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Chairperson of the Ratmalana Divisional Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe, Chairman of the Roads Sub-Committee of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee Dewananda Suraweera, Mayor of the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Parakum Shantha, Chief Secretary of the Western Province K.G. Pradeep Pushpakumara, along with a number of government officials.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]