The Elections Commission (EC) has yesterday (26) requested a meeting with the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Dinesh Gunawardena to discuss the situation which has arisen with regard to the Local Government (LG) elections.

A spokesman for the EC, when contacted by The Daily Morning, said that the EC had requested Gunawardena for a meeting to discuss matters pertaining to the LG elections, including the procurement of necessary funds and the possibility of paying salaries to public servants who are contesting the LG elections.

Meanwhile, speaking in Parliament on Friday (24), Gunawardena said that he expects to summon the EC members in the coming days, to discuss the uncertainty which has emerged regarding the LG elections.

"I hope to summon the EC members and discuss this uncertainty. When we summon the EC members, there may be allegations that we are attempting to interfere in its affairs. I do not know if all EC members will accept my invitation too. However, I hope to discuss this matter with them,” the Premier said in response to a question raised by Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya leader Sajith Premadasa.

Although the LG elections were scheduled to be held on 9 March, the Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies Ministry and the General Treasury had not released the required funds to the EC. The EC then rescheduled the LG election to 25 April, and the postal voting to 28, 29, 30, and 31 March and 3 April 2023, but the required funds are yet to be released. Against this backdrop, the EC, following a meeting with the secretaries of political parties on 23 March, had decided to postpone the postal voting related to the LG elections, once again.