President mulls cancelling nominations for LG polls

• Government has to enact a piece of legislation to cancel the nominations
• SLPP asserted the government should continue with the Samurdhi programme

By Kelum Bandara  

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have told Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organizer Basil Rajapaksa that the government will explore the possibility of cancelling the nominations filed for the local authorities’ elections, Daily Mirror learns.   

The election to the local authorities which was scheduled for early this year has now been postponed indefinitely. Mr. Rajapaksa reportedly requested the President to conduct the election or cancel the nominations since the candidates who tendered nominations face difficulties otherwise. He said some candidates who are public servants remain transferred outside their constituencies. Also, he said these candidates are unable to attend state functions in their areas because of their nominations to contest the elections.  

However, the government has to enact a piece of legislation to cancel the nominations. The President agreed to look into the request in consultation with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardane who is the minister in charge of local government affairs.   

Besides, the representatives of the SLPP held talks with the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) led by the Prime Minister on Thursday and discussed, among others, the proposals to be included in the upcoming budget.  

The SLPP was represented by Mr. Rajapaksa, Party’s General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, MPs Namal Rajapaksa, Gamini Lokuge and Johnston Fernando.  

In addition to the Prime Minister, the MEP team comprised his son MP Yadamini Gunawardane. The two sides agreed to put forward budgetary proposals such as fertilizer subsidy for farmers, resumption of rural development projects, job security for employees of  state institutions to be restructured and rectification of issues in the Samurdhi social welfare scheme.  
The SLPP asserted that the government should continue with the Samurdhi programme.