The Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC) Nimal G. Punchihewa has refuted reports of a division within the Commission with regard to conducting the Local Government elections.
Punchihewa denied claims by President Ranil Wickremesinghe that the NEC members were divided over conducting the Local Government polls amidst the present crisis.
According to the Cabinet of Ministers, President Ranil Wickremesinghe had apprised the Cabinet of the meetings held with the members of the Elections Commission.
The President had informed that as per the events that have transpired, there appears to be no majority agreement among the commission members pertaining to conducting the Local Government polls.
The Cabinet stated that thereby, the President had requested the NEC members to reach a common consensus on the matters related to conducting the polls.
However, the Chairman of the National Elections Commission Nimal G. Punchihewa denied such claims.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration is to be summoned before the National Elections Commission.
Commission Chairman Punchihewa said that the Secretary will be summoned for issuing a circular directing District Secretaries to refrain from accepting cash bonds for the election.
Earlier yesterday, the District Secretaries were reportedly informed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration to stop accepting deposits for the Local Government Elections.
The Ministry of Public Administration thereafter announced that the said letter has been recalled.
The National Elections Commission also instructed all district secretaries that they should continue to accept deposits for local council elections as per the previously issued instructions. (NewsWire)
