13 January 2023 09:20 am Views - 92
By Yohan Perera
Officials of the Treasury have informed the Commission of Elections that it can only release funds for the local government election, in instalments, an official from the Finance Ministry who wished to remain anonymous, said yesterday.
The treasury officials informed this situation when they met members of the commission including its Chairman Nimal Pumchihewa and Commissioner General Saman Ratnayake last morning.
“Treasury officials have said they cannot determine a time period in which they could release funds through instalments,” sources said.
The treasury had also informed the Election Commission that welfare expenditure would have to be slashed to make funds available for local polls.