Govt takes steps towards Northern LG Polls

JAFFNA: The Government is going ahead with steps to amend the Provincial Councils (Special Provisions) Act to pave the way for holding Local Government elections in the Northern Province.

Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon said the Government has recognised the urgency to restore the democratic rights of the Northerners under the prevailing peaceful atmosphere.

Through this an opportunity will be provided to the people of the North to elect their own representatives to the local councils.

The Minister said the present humanitarian operation in the North to liberate the people from the grip of terrorism by the Government has reached a decisive phase. He said Section 55 of the Provincial Councils (Special Provisions) Act of 2007 was passed on November 16 2007 making provisions to call for fresh nominations for 33 local bodies in the North where polls could not be held due to sudden and unforeseeable circumstances

Although under Section 3 of the Act notice calling for fresh nominations should have been published six months since the date indicated in the Act this could not be done since the security situation that prevailed at the time was not conducive for holding elections.

Steps have therefore been taken to introduce an amendment to the existing Act to extend this period 10 months since the date of the enactment of the Provincial Councils (Special Provisions) Act.

The Minister said Cabinet approval is already being sought to notify the legal draughtsman in this connection.

The Minister said altogether there are 34 local Government bodies covering the Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu Districts. Of this the Puthukudiirrippu Pradeshiya Sabha was elected uncontested at the 2006 March local Government elections. However due to the security situation that prevailed at the time the Elections Commissioner postponed the elections to the remaining 33 local Government bodies.

The Minister stressed that the Government is determined to restore the democratic rights of the people in the North in the same way it did with the Eastern population by holding elections in the Eastern Province.

He said the new amendment could be deemed an important piece of legislation that would ensure the right of the people of the North to elect their own representatives and be stakeholders in matters affecting their day to day lives, through the exercise of their democratic right.