• You cannot postponed the local government polls as the process of holding the poll has already begun

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana 

The entire opposition will collectively file legal action if the local government election is postponed, MP Professor G. L. Peiris told Parliament yesterday. 

 “You cannot postponed the local government polls as the process of holding the poll has already begun,” he said.   “We believe that MP Premananth Dolawatte have presented a private members Bill to increase youth representation in good faith. However this legislation should not be used to postpone the local government election,” the MP added.   “What the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stressed is a new mandate. The government is able to  show the mandate by holding an election. Sri Lanka is in danger of losing GSP plus. Several industries such as the apparel sector depends deeply on GSP plus,” he said.   “We hope that local government bodies will not suffer the fate which the provincial councils suffered. There are no elected members in provincial councils as a result of the amendment introduced by the Yahapalana government to the provincial council elections ordinance,” he stressed. 

• Says Sri Lanka is in danger of losing GSP plus. Several industries such as the apparel sector depends deeply on GSP plus