EC tells returning officers to accept deposits

Public Admin. Ministry says not to accept and later recalls its letter 

• AKD says President violated Constitution by ordering not to accept deposits

By Ajith Siriwardana   

The Elections Commission yesterday directed all District  Returning Officers to accept deposits placed by political parties and  independent groups for the Local Government election, despite directions  of the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home  Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government to District Secretaries not to do so.    

Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home  Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government has informed all  District Secretaries to refrain from accepting candidate deposits for  the Local Government Election 2023 until further notice, as per the  orders by the Cabinet.   

Ministry Secretary Neel Bandara Hapuhinna earlier in the  day informed all District Secretaries to refrain from accepting deposits  for the Local Government Election 2023 until further notice. However,  later in the day, he recalled the said letter.   

Meanwhile, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri  Rathnayake in a letter to all District Secretaries said that it was their  responsibility to accept deposits placed by political parties  and independent groups as the District returning officers have been  appointed as returning officers in respective districts through an  extraordinary gazette notification issued in terms of the powers vested  on the elections commission through the Local Authorities Elections  Ordinance.   The Commission also said that it was the responsibility of  the returning officers to accept nominations from January 18 until noon  January 21.   

JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake making a special  statement said it was a direct violation of the Constitution by the  President to direct District Secretaries not to accept nominations.   

He said the President is trying to postpone the election by  showing that there is a rift between the elections commission and the  President.

   
“A Cabinet decision has been taken to seek Attorney  General’s opinion saying that there is a rift within the elections  commission and to accept deposits after that. It is an influence to the  elections commission exceeding the powers of the Cabinet,” he said and  appreciated the bold decision of the EC to accept deposits despite the  Cabinet decision.   
Dissanayake said the National People’s Power would place deposits for certain districts today as planned.