The National Election Commission says a new date for the Local Government Election will be announced early next week.
The Commission members convened today after announcing last week that the new date for the election will be notified today.
Chairman of the Election Commission Nimal G. Punchihewa stated that the new date will be announced following discussions with the Finance Ministry Secretary, Government Printer, Police and other relevant officials.
He further stated that the discussion in this regard will be held in the first few days of next week.
The National Election Commission has postponed the announcement after the Supreme Court today announced its decision pertaining to a case filed on the delay in holding the elections.
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka issued an interim order preventing the Finance Ministry’s Secretary from withholding the funds allocated for election purposes under the 2023 budget.
The order was issued after the petition filed by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara was taken up for consideration before the Supreme Court three-judge bench comprising Preethi Padman Soorasena, Janak de Silva, and Priyantha Fernando.
The SJB General Secretary had filed the petition requesting the Supreme Court to rule that the respondents, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, have violated the fundamental rights of the people by not releasing funds to the Election Commission for the Local Government polls. (NewsWire)
