Will summon EC for a meeting over uncertainty of LG polls: Dinesh

By Ajith Siriwardana

The Elections Commission will be summoned for a meeting to discuss the matters with regard to the uncertainty of the commission about holding the Local Government election, Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said yesterday.

He told Parliament that the Elections Commission had not been able to come to a conclusion on holding the LG polls where the discussion had ended with looming uncertainty.

“I hope to call the Elections Commission for a meeting soon about the uncertainty of the Commission regarding the LG polls,” he said responding to questions of the opposition.

The Prime Minister said the opposition and the Elections Commission had filed several cases in the Supreme Court regarding the LG polls and added that the government would respect the court decisions and act accordingly.

When asked about allocating funds to the LG polls, he said the government has several priorities to meet in the coming days where two salaries of government workers and pensions have to be paid before the New Year. “We will pay the salaries of government servants at least from the IMF funds we received,” he said.   

        
*Says EC had not been able to come to a conclusion on holding the LG polls