Alleging that certain Local Government Commissioners had acted in an unacceptable manner during the election of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Mayor and Deputy Mayor for certain Local Government institutions, the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), claimed that it is expecting to take legal action against such Commissioners.

This was noted by SJB Parliamentarian S.M. Marikkar while speaking at a press briefing held yesterday (15) in Colombo, where he said that those Commissioners had violated the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance.

He made these remarks in a context where the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) and Opposition parties including the SJB are struggling to garner support from other parties to establish power in Local Government institutions where no single party has secured over 50% of votes, which is a requirement to establish power and appoint a Mayor. Marikkar was referring to such institutions where an internal election has to be held to appoint members to the above positions.

Marikkar added that according to the law, in the event of confusion about the method of election, the majority members’ opinion should be taken into account through a vote. He however claimed that some Local Government Commissioners had taken steps to hold a secret vote without seeking members’ opinion, and that it is illegal.

“Local Government Commissioners have no power to go beyond the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance,” he said, urging the Government not to allow such acts.