By The Pulseline News Desk
The Government has reiterated its intention to hold long-delayed Provincial Council elections at the earliest possible opportunity, while acknowledging that Parliament must first complete the legislative and delimitation processes required to pave the way for the polls.
Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has said the Government had no intention of abandoning the elections and had already allocated funds for their conduct.
Responding to questions at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing regarding a recent statement by member of parliament (MP) Nilanthi Kottahachchi suggesting that Provincial Council elections would not be held, Jayatissa has said the Government’s position remained clear.
“The expectation of the Government is to hold the Provincial Council elections quickly. There is no idea that the elections will not be held,” he has said.
According to the Minister, however, the Government cannot proceed with the elections until the necessary legal framework is established.
He has explained that if Parliament passes the required legislation and completes the delimitation process within this year, the elections could subsequently be conducted.
A Parliamentary committee has already been appointed to address the outstanding issues relating to the electoral process, with Jayatissa stressing that its work must now move forward.
The Minister has said the Government had already made financial provisions for the elections, indicating that the principal obstacle at present was not funding but the absence of the legal and administrative framework necessary to conduct the polls.
Provincial Council elections have remained pending for several years, with the expiry of the terms of all nine Provincial Councils leaving the country without elected provincial administrations.
The delay has largely been linked to disputes and legal complications surrounding the electoral system and the delimitation of electorates following amendments to the Provincial Councils Elections Act.
The Government has therefore placed responsibility on Parliament to resolve the outstanding legislative issues and enable the Election Commission to proceed with preparations.
Jayatissa has stressed that elections could not simply be conducted without the necessary legal authority, making the passage of legislation a critical step towards ending the prolonged electoral vacuum.
His comments also appear intended to clarify the Government’s position following concerns raised by Kottahachchi’s remarks, which had been interpreted as suggesting that the NPP Government was not planning to conduct Provincial Council elections.
Instead, the Cabinet spokesperson has maintained that the Government expects the polls to be held as soon as the outstanding legal requirements are fulfilled.
With the Government indicating that funding has already been allocated, attention is now likely to shift towards Parliament and the committee tasked with resolving the electoral and delimitation issues.
The key test will be whether Parliament can complete the required legislative process and delimitation work within the Government’s stated timeframe, potentially allowing Provincial Council elections to be held after years of delay.
Leave a comment