• EC to inform parties/groups with 50%+ to name chairs/mayors, of no. of female reps. 

The Election Commission (EC) stated that they are expecting to conclude their duties by informing political parties and independent groups that secured over 50% of seats in Local Government (LG) bodies to name chairpersons/mayors, as well as the number of female representatives that should be appointed, before 2 June.

The LG Elections to elect public representatives for a total of 339 LG bodies were held from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday (6).

Speaking to The Daily Morning on the next course of action, EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said: “The relevant political parties and independent groups that secured over 50% seats in LG bodies will be officially notified to nominate chairpersons/mayors in the coming days. In addition, they will be informed of the number of female representatives that should be appointed to each LG body.”

Once the said arrangements are completed, he said that the final list of LG representatives would be published in a gazette notification. “According to the relevant gazette notification issued by the Ministry of LG, the LG bodies are to have their maiden meetings on 2 June. We expect to conclude what needs to be done from our end before then,” he said.

In the LG Elections, the National People’s Power gained 3,921 seats and secured a majority in more than 150 LG bodies. However, they managed to secure overall control only in around 100 bodies. From the Opposition, the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya secured 1,766 seats while the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna won 742 seats. The United National Party and the People’s Alliance won 379 and 300 seats, respectively. The Sarvajana Balaya secured 22 seats in LG bodies across the country.