The Election Commission is confident that the Local Government Elections will not be cancelled or see a prolonged postponement, considering the directives given by the Supreme Court, The Sunday Morning learns.

The Election Commission on Friday (3) announced that a decision on the new date for the polls for the Local Government Elections would be taken during the week ahead. A decision will likely be taken following a meeting that is to be held between key State stakeholders and the Election Commission next week. 

The announcement comes following an order given by the Supreme Court on the same day directing the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance to release the funds allocated for the Local Government Elections via the Budget 2023, which amounts to Rs. 10 billion. 

‘No reason for prolonged postponement’

Election Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa told The Sunday Morning that the decision would have to be taken following consultations with the relevant authorities involved in the process, particularly on the matter of releasing funds. 

“We will have to consult with various institutions such as the Treasury. The Supreme Court has issued a verdict so now the Treasury must tell us when we can be given the funding that is needed. We must also speak with the Government Printer because it won’t be practical to demand that the ballot papers be printed in a day or two. They will also require time. The Police will also be consulted. We will meet with all of them and take these matters into consideration before announcing a new poll date,” Punchihewa explained.

When asked whether a new date would mean that the Delimitation Committee recommendations would be implemented at the polls, Punchihewa responded in the negative. 

“As I understand, the report is still not out. Once the report is out, a Review Committee must be appointed and they must give their approval. This whole process will take several months, which will be after the new polls date.”

He went on to assert that there would be no need to have an extended waiting period to hold the Local Government Polls.

“There is no reason to have a prolonged postponement of the Local Government Elections as the Treasury has to now release the money. There is certainly no reason to cancel the polls. Only a natural disaster or a pandemic like Covid-19 can delay the election again.”

He added that all deposits made by political parties and independent candidates would remain as is. 

Election Commission Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake, speaking to The Sunday Morning, said that the relevant authorities would be summoned to the Election Commission on Tuesday (7) for discussions.

“We will be meeting officials from the Treasury, the Police, and the Government Printer on Tuesday. We will also be meeting with the officials of the Energy Ministry afterwards on the same day.”

Ratnayake, on a previous occasion, said that a gazette would be published regarding the new date of the polls. 

“A gazette will be issued regarding the postponement of the election and the new date of polls. The new date of the election will be decided by the commission in the coming week,” he said, adding that a new date for the postal vote would also have to be announced.

‘Treasury has failed in its duty’

He added that a guarantee from the Parliament on fund availability would be sought before the new polls date was decided on.

“The Treasury has failed in its duty; it did not provide us with the funds and was unable to give a date as to when it could release money. Therefore, the Parliament will have to give us a guarantee that there will be funds available and when. The Speaker will have to inform of this. We have written and informed him about this.”

However, on Thursday (2), Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced that he would not be summoning the Secretary to the Treasury over the accusation that the official had denied the funds required by the Election Commission to conduct the Local Government Polls.

Following continuous refusal by the Treasury to release funds to the Election Commission to conduct the Local Government Polls, the commission announced that it had no choice but to postpone the polls to a later date and that a new date would be revealed on Friday (3).

This came after President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in a controversial statement made in Parliament, charged that the Local Government Polls had no legitimacy as the commission members were not in consensus when they announced the elections in December. 

However, while refusing to comment on the President’s controversial statements due to parliamentary privileges, the Election Commission Chair asserted that they had taken all decisions with consensus of all members and that the election had been called for in a legal and proper manner.