News
Poll monitors step forward to find necessary funds to hold local government poll
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Election monitors are ready to raise funds for conducting the local council elections, Executive Director of People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi says.
“If the real problem is a lack of funding, we are ready to start work this week to secure funding for the election,” he said yesterday.
The government should be allowed to the pretext of financial issues to undermine the rights of the people, he said.
“We will file several court cases in the coming days,” he said.
The government was trying to postpone all elections until the next presidential polls, he said.
“President Ranil Wickremesinghe often talks about the devolution of power, but he has taken steps to ensure that both local and provincial council elections are not held.
“He has ensured that both the Provincial Councils and the local councils will be without elected representatives. No previous government has said we can’t hold elections for want of funds. What is the precedence we are setting here? If the government manges to postpone the LG polls, the same method will be used over and over again in the future. This must give everyone a pause,” he said.
The French Navy Ship ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ arrived at the Port of Colombo on a goodwill visit today. (09 May 25)
The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with time-honoured naval traditions.
The 80.65m long ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ is a Hydrographic Vessel commanded by Commander BERTHEAU Dimitri and she is manned by 58 crew members.
Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer and a group of crew members of the ship are scheduled to call on senior officers of the Sri Lanka National Hydrographic Office (SLNHO) to discuss key hydrographic matters of bilateral importance.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ship will explore some tourist attractions within the country and the ship is scheduled to set sail from Colombo on 13 May.
It has been reported that two Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter gunners and four Special Forces personnel have been pronounced dead after a SLAF Bell 212 helicopter crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir this (09) morning.
There were a total of 12 armed forces personnel on board the ill-fated aircraft.
It has been reported that a Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 Helicopter has crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir this morning.
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