Mini polls: Nominations close Thursday

E. Weerapperuma

COLOMBO: Accepting of nominations to the Local Government Elections will close on Thursday noon. Major political parties were due to submit their nominations from yesterday.

Local Government Elections will be held in respect of 18 Municipal Councils, 42 Urban Councils and 270 Pradeshiya Sabhas. The Election Department said that by yesterday 20 Groups have deposited money in respect of Municipal Councils, and 04 groups have submitted nominations. While deposit have been made in respect of 23 Urban Councils and Nominations for six UCs.

Money has also been deposited in respect of 107 and nominations for 34 Pradeshiya Sabhas. The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) will contest the polls with the CWC and the UPF in the upcountry and several other districts.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the Western Province Development Front will contest with the United National Party (UNP) in Colombo, Kandy, Matale, Kalutara, Beruwala and Gampaha.

The UPFA and the UNP are expected to field their candidates to almost all Local Government bodies except in the North. While the JVP plans to contest over 300 local bodies, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) will contest for over 100 local bodies.

The JHU has decided to nominate Buddhist monks as leaders in some Municipal Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas. By Monday Independent groups had submitted nominations for Colombo, Batticaloa, Ampara Municipal Councils and 22 Pradeshiya Sabhas including Gampaha, Matale, Matara, Batticaloa, Ampara, Anuradhapura, Badulla and Moneragala. The UPFA has submitted nominations for Moneragala, Siyambalanduwa and Badalkumbura and the Liberal Party for Athuraliya.

According to the Election Commissioner's Department, by Monday 234 Independent groups had deposited money.According to the Election Department sources, following deposits were paid by Independent groups. Colombo 23, Gampaha 26, Kalutara 14, Kandy 09, Matale 01, N'Eliya 07, Galle 15, Matara 14, Hambantota 17, Batticaloa 27, Ampara 35, Trincomalee 04, Kurunegala 07, Puttalam 09, Anuradhapura 06, Polonnaruwa 04, Badulla 05, Moneragala 04, Ratnapura 04 and Kegalle 03.