LA Bill before House next week

Nadira Gunatilleke and Rajmi Manatunga

The Local Authorities (Special Provisions) Bill which would facilitate the holding of Local Government polls in the Northern province will be presented in Parliament next week.

Once the Bill is passed, any person or group who intends to contest the poll can register and run for the election, Chief Government Whip Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle told the media yesterday.

The Minister invited the LTTE, the Karuna faction and any other interested group to make use of the opportunity offered through this election and enter the democratic process to serve the people of the North.

Referring to a statement made by United National Party General Secretary Tissa Attanayake that they would take to the road if the President does not dissolve Parliament, he said the Government was not ready to hold elections to suit the needs of the UNP.

“President Mahinda Rajapaksa has no intention of postponing elections which should be democratically held. But, they will not be held when the UNP wants them,” he said.