• Printing Dept. unable to commence ballot paper printing
• EC says Printer should inform EC in writing officially, not via media   

The Government Printer Gangani Liyanage is to inform the Election Commission (EC) today (14) in writing that the general Treasury is yet to provide the necessary financial allocation for the printing of ballot papers for the Local Government (LG) polls.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (13), Government Printer Gangani Liyanage said: "After the discussion with the EC last week, I submitted a written request to the Secretary to the Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies Ministry and the Treasury Mahinda Siriwardana requesting that the necessary funds be released, but I have received nothing so far. Therefore, it is not possible to start printing ballot papers. I am looking for a response from the Treasury today (13) as well. If there is no response, I hope to inform the EC tomorrow (14) in writing in this regard."

While the recent requests made by the EC and the Government Printer to the Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies Ministry that the funds required to hold the LG elections be released have reportedly been forwarded to the subject Minister, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Liyanage said on 12 March that she had not received any funds other than the sum of Rs. 40 million which had been received earlier.

In response to a query made by The Daily Morning on the matter, EC Chairman, Attorney Nimal G. Punchihewa said that it is Liyanage's responsibility to discuss with the Treasury and obtain the relevant funds, and inform the EC if there was an issue. “Even though what should rightfully take place is for the Treasury and the Government Printing Department to resolve the matter pertaining to the provision of financial allocations and funds by the former to the latter as is the general practice where the Treasury releases funds to be received by the Department, thus precluding any involvement of the EC, she has however told the media that she has not received funds. However, she has not made any official notification to us. It is not enough to send letters to the Treasury as she should inform the EC if there is any issue”. 

However, emphasising that the printing of ballot papers was merely one task among thousands of others handled by the Government Printing Department, Liyanage said that it is the EC's responsibility to discuss with the Treasury and release the required funds to the Department. “During the meeting with the EC on 7 March, they asked me to send a letter to the Treasury asking for funds. I did so on 8 March, and there was no response from the Treasury. The LG elections were called by the EC. It is they who have all powers regarding elections. What I can do is to print the ballot papers when I receive funds. This is just one task among thousands of others of the Department.”