News
LG Ordinance has to be amended to end chaotic situation – Minister Abeyratne
Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Prof. Chandana Abeyratne yesterday (03) said that the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance had to be amended to end political chaos in local councils.
Prof. Abeyratne pointed out that the failure of 178 Local Government authorities to commence operations on 02 June underscored the urgent need to take remedial measures. Of the 339 local government bodies to which elections were held on May 06, terms of only 161 could commence on 02 June.
The Minister said so in response to The Island query whether the NPP government acknowledged the urgent requirement to introduce a stable system. According to Prof. Abeyratne, the issue has been discussed at the relevant consultative committee and both the government and the Opposition essentially reached consensus on the necessity to restore stability.
Prof. Abeyratne asserted that the outcome of ongoing battles for178 local government bodies in administrative limbo did not reflect the public mood. Those Councils couldn’t start functioning until their heads were elected the councillors, Prof. Abeyratne said.
The NPP and the SJB, striving to muster majorities in hung Councils, have repeatedly accused each other of bribing elected councillors of other parties as well as independent group members.
Prof. Abeyratne said that Local Government polls had to be conducted without delay in view of the Supreme Court directive issued to the Election Commission in the run-up to the September 2024 presidential election.
The Supreme Court five-judge-bench, headed by the then Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, on August 22, 2024, directed the Election Commission to make the necessary arrangements to hold the Local Government elections at the earliest possible date.
The Supreme Court declared that the Fundamental Rights of the petitioners and the citizens of the country have been violated by the authorities, including the Minister of Finance, the Election Commission and the Attorney General, by not holding the Local Government elections that were scheduled for March 9, 2023.
Petitioners were Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, National People’s Power (NPP) Parliamentarian Harini Amarasuriya, the Centre for Policy Alternatives and the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL).
Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, one-time head of the election monitoring body CaFFE, said that political parties had to take a fresh look at the Local Authorities Election Ordinance, along with three key amendments, namely Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act No 22 of 2012, Act No 01 of 2016 and Act No 16 of 2017.
In terms of the Act No 16 of 2017, mixed proportional local authorities election meant that 60 percent of councillors were elected on a ward basis and the rest on proportional basis, Tennakoon said.
Commenting on the inordinate delay in the election of the heads of 178 bodies, Tennakoon said that horse-trading caused immense damage to local authorities. Negotiations at local government level have a bearing on parliamentary politics, too, Tennakoon said, adding that those who had been defeated could be appointed through the list though the elected couldn’t be deprived the opportunity of serving Councils.
Tennakoon emphasised the importance of ensuring stipulated women representation, whatever the amendments proposed in the future. The civil society activist pointed out that in some areas in the Northern and Eastern provinces, political parties found it difficult to nominate a stipulated number of women for both categories – ward and proportional basis – for want of adequate Muslim representation.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Protesting Development Officers continued their hunger strike near the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo yesterday (01), for the seventh consecutive day.The protesters, who are members of the Lanka School Development Officers’ Association, are demanding that they be absorbed into the teacher service as they have served as teachers in state-run schools for nearly seven years.
Secretary of the Association, Viraj Manaranga, said the protesters were seeking an urgent meeting with the President. He added that a presidential aide had visited the protest site and offered to arrange for a meeting with the President on 03 Feb., but the union insisted on an earlier date. Manaranga warned that failure to grant a meeting could trigger a massive protest in Colombo today (02).
Four officers participating in the hunger strike have been hospitalised due to deteriorating health, while two more joined the fast on Saturday (31).
In a bid to raise awareness of their grievances, on 30 January a delegation of the All Island Development Officers’ Association visited Most Venerable
Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, and subsequently with the Chapter’s Registrar, Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera. The prelates said promises that had been made to them should be fulfilled.
The protest began on 26 January as a satyagraha, after authorities failed to respond to repeated requests to integrate the officers into the teaching service. The escalation into a fast-unto-death underscores the protesters’ frustration over the prolonged delay
by Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The long-vacant post of Auditor General would be filled on 03 Feb., after months of controversy and delays, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake said on Friday (31) in Kandy.
The Constitutional Council met at the Parliamentary complex on Friday to discuss the appointment but failed to reach a decision on a suitable candidate. The President had previously proposed four names on four separate occasions, all of which were rejected. The Council is now set to consider the fifth nominee.
The post has remained vacant since April 2025, following the retirement of Chulanta Wickramaratne, who served as the 41st Auditor General. More than 10 months have passed without a permanent appointment.
Sources said a female officer in the Auditor General’s Department has been nominated again, though her previous recommendation was rejected due to some allegations against her.
Meanwhile, senior audit officer Dharmapala Gammanpila, with 31 years of service and the department’s most senior official, has received backing from the Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas, the Maha Sangha, and several civil society groups for appointment as the 42nd Auditor General.
Sources noted that the three civil society representatives on the Constitutional Council will play a crucial role in the final decision.
by Chaminda Silva and SK Samaranayake
Two 18-year-old youth were arrested by the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division on 31 January for allegedly aiding and abetting two murders carried out in Dehiwala and Kohuwala. ICE (crystal meth) was found in their possession at the time of arrest.
The suspects are residents of Mount Lavinia and Boralesgamuwa, according to the police. They are accused of having helped carry out a murder at a hotel in the Dehiwala Police Division on 9 January, 2026, and an attack on a person travelling in a three-wheeler at Bodhiyawatta, Kohuwala, on 12 December, 2025.
Police said the charges included sending photographs of the victims to a criminal living overseas.
Investigations revealed that the youth had acted under the direction of a criminal known as Sando.
Under the guidance of Janaka Kumara, Director of the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division, investigations are being led by Police Inspector Hemanta Kumara, assisted by Sub-Inspectors Prasanna Gunathilaka and Prasanna (40248), and Constables Chaminda (72987), Anil (79598), Kumar (88762), and Senanayake (19363), who are continuing the probe.
by Norman Palihawadane and Chaminda Silva
Showers expected in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Western, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Central provinces
Development Officers threaten to intensify their protest
Auditor General to be appointed tomorrow
Two arrested for aiding and abetting murder
CID summons former First Lady again
Remembering Upali Wijewardene, founder of Upali Group of Companies
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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