LG polls in North
*Nominations to be announced on June
4
*Impetus for development, democracy
in North
Chaminda PERERA
In a bid to ensure democratic rights of the people in the North, the
Government will hold the local government elections for the Jaffna
Municipal Council and the Vavuniya Urban Council soon. The Gazette
Notification in this connection was to be issued last night. Nominations
for the election will be announced on June 4.
According to Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Janaka
Bandara Tennakoon, establishment of local government bodies in the North
would give an impetus for development and democracy in the Northern
province which was battered by terrorism for almost three decades.
The Northern province consists of one Municipal Council, five Urban
Councils and 28 Pradeshiya Sabhas. The Government conducted the local
poll for Putukuduyirppu Pradeshiya Sabha in 2006 and the candidates for
the Putukuduyirppu Pradeshiya Sabha were elected uncontested.
The local polls for the other local Government bodies were postponed
due to the conflict in the North.
The Minister added that the forthcoming election will restore the
Tamil people’s democratic rights denied to them by LTTE terrorists.
“The Government is committed to hold elections and give an
opportunity to the public to exercise their franchise to elect
representatives of their choice to local government bodies”.
According to an Election Department official, nominations from the
recognised political parties and independent groups would be called
within two weeks of the date of issuing the Gazette notification.
“The Election Department is fully prepared to hold an election
anywhere in the country,” he said. |