By The Pulseline News Desk
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has rejected claims that funds allocated for the provincial council elections were diverted for disaster relief, telling Parliament that resources set aside for the election process have not been used for emergency assistance programmes.
Responding to questions raised in Parliament on Friday (10), the Prime Minister said funds allocated for the long-delayed provincial council elections remain separate from financial resources being used to support disaster-affected communities and restore damaged infrastructure.
Her clarification comes amid renewed debate over the status of provincial council elections, with opposition parties, including Tamil political parties, continuing to press the Government to conduct the polls without further delay.
The provincial council elections, originally scheduled to be held in 2017, have remained postponed for several years due to disputes over the electoral system and the legal framework required to conduct the polls. Opposition parties have repeatedly argued that the prolonged delay has weakened provincial representation and affected the democratic rights of voters, particularly in the North and East.
Tamil political parties have been among the strongest voices calling for the immediate holding of the elections, pointing out that elected provincial councils play an important role in regional administration and public representation under Sri Lanka’s devolution framework.
The issue has also featured prominently in wider political discussions, with opposition parties questioning whether the Government remains committed to restoring the electoral process at the provincial level.
Addressing Parliament, Prime Minister Amarasuriya said all financial contributions received from donors for assisting disaster-affected people and rehabilitating damaged infrastructure have been securely deposited in a special account maintained under the supervision of the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury.
She said these funds would be used only for projects identified according to national priorities and urgent needs, with emphasis placed on providing relief to affected communities, restoring livelihoods and rebuilding damaged public infrastructure and essential services.
The Prime Minister further assured lawmakers that the management and utilisation of disaster relief funds would be conducted with the highest standards of transparency, accountability and compliance with good governance principles.
The debate over election funds has emerged at a time when the Government is facing pressure on two fronts – responding to communities affected by disasters while also addressing longstanding demands for the restoration of delayed democratic processes.
Amarasuriya said maintaining public confidence in financial management remains a key priority and reiterated that funds collected for disaster response would be directed solely towards relief, recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
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