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Political parties ready for Local Polls

by Jayantha Sri Nissanka and Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

All political parties yesterday declared that they are ready to face the March 1 Local Government Elections.

All political parties yesterday declared that they are ready to face the March 1 Local Government Elections.

General Secretary of the People's Alliance D.M.Jayaratne said they have requested six months' postponement of the election due to the threats against their Local Government members.

"But we have called applications to select candidates. We are also not against the Government's proposed two amendments to the Local Government Ordinance to reduce the time frame of holding the election," he added.

Propaganda Secretary of the JVP Wimal Weerawansa said the Government plans to bring two amendments in hastily for their own benefit. Changes in election laws should be made after a wide-ranging dialogue. Therefore, the JVP will not support to this kind of ad-hoc changes, he said.

Sihala Urumaya Propaganda Secretary Udaya Gammanpila said that they are ready for the election and the campaign has already begun.

Mahajana Eksath Peramuna leader Dinesh Gunawardane taking a different view said the sole right of fixing the date of the Local Government election is vested in the Commissioner of Elections according to the Local Government Election Ordinance. "I wonder how Ministers fixed dates taking the powers of the Commissioner. I believe that the Prime Minister will not agree with the violation of the Election Commissioner's rights," he added.

Leader of the Tamil National Alliance R.Sampanthan said that they are ready for the election but declined to make any comment without the knowledge of the other parties in the group. EPDP spokesman Thavaraja also said that the EPDP was ready for the election.

General Secretary of the Communist Party Dew Gunasekara said that they are ready for the election and said that the proposed two amendments are a minor issue.

Meanwhile, the Elections Department is reported to be busy with making formal arrangements for the forthcoming local polls. "We are now making basic arrangements for the election," Assistant Commissioner of Elections K. Senanayake added.

Twelve million voters countrywide, including the North-East, will be able to elect representatives of their choice to 14 Municipal Councils, 37 Urban Councils and 258 Pradeshiya Sabhas on March 1. The focus will be on the Municipal Councils including Colombo, Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia, Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte, Kandy, Galle, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Jaffna and Kurunegala. Some former urban councils have now been upgraded to municipal councils.

The decision to hold the election in March was taken by the Cabinet Sub Committee on Local Government Elections which comprises Home Affairs, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Alick Aluvihare, Power and Energy Minister Karu Jayasuriya, Enterprise Development, Investment Promotion, Industrial Policy and Constitutional Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Justice, Law Reform, National Integration and Buddha Sasana Minister W.J.M. Lokubandara. Attorney General K.C. Kamalasabayson represented the Attorney General's Department.

A discussion will be held with the Commissioner within the next two weeks to decide upon a period for accepting nominations. All parties represented in Parliament as well as other political parties are expected to field candidates for this election.

The last local poll was held in April 1997 according to the Proportional Representation (PR) system. There was no polling in the North-East.

The first Bill of the United National Front Government will be presented next Tuesday (08) to introduce amendments to the Local Government Ordinance in view of the forthcoming Local Government elections.

This bill which will be presented by Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Alick Aluvihare will make two amendments to the existing Ordinance. Both amendments will reduce the time frame governing the conduct of this election.

The first amendment seeks to reduce the interval between the proclamation and nomination days. The second will reduce the election campaign period between nominations day and polling day.

A Police spokesman said that all possible steps would be taken to ensure law and order during the election period in the light of their experience during the General Election campaign, in which over 60 people were killed. Security will be intensified at propaganda rallies and polling booths. 

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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