LG bodies dissolved
*Authorised officers takeover
*Elections in March
Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE
The one year extension given to Local Government Authorities on April
1, 2010 was curtailed at midnight yesterday ending terms of office.
The curtailment was done by Local Government and Provincial Councils
Minister A L M Athaulla issuing a special gazette notification in term
of the powers vested in him.
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Minister
A L M Athaulla |
Accordingly, 268 Local Government Bodies out of 330 Municipal
Councils, Town Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas stands dissolved enabling
the Election Commissioner to call for fresh elections. Out of 270
Pradeshiya Sabhas election will be held at 228 Pradeshiya Sabhas. Out of
42 Town Councils, elections will be held at 40. Elections for the 18
Municipal Councils will not be held.
Minister Athaulla said that the Government will not curtail Local
Government bodies in areas where World Cup matches will be played.
Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas in Pallekele
and Kundasale in the Kandy district, Kolonnawa, Kotte, Dehiwala and
Mount Lavinia in the Colombo District and Suriyawewa in the Hambantota
district will not be curtailed aiming to ensure the smooth functioning
of Cricket World Cup matches.
The term of office of the other Local government bodies will go until
March 31, 2011.
All curtailed Local Government Authorities will come under the
control of authorised officers.
The authorised officers will be appointed by the President. Most
probably Government Agents will be the authorised officers of the
curtailed Local Government Authorities, Minister Athaulla added.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media and Information Minister
Keheliya Rambukwella said for the first time in the Local Government
election history in Sri Lanka, the Local Government institutions will be
dissolved prior to the election to be held in March 2011, aiming to have
a fair and peaceful election. Minister Rambukwella said at the weekly
Cabinet briefing yesterday that during the Local Government elections,
Local Government bodies will be under authorised officers. Discontinuing
the earlier practice, this decision will be taken on the directive of
President Mahinda Rajapaksa to ensure a free and fair election. In
accordance with this positive decision, no resources will be illegally
utilized to the advantage of any candidate, he said. Local Government
Elections to the Jaffna Municipal Council and Vavuniya Town Council were
held in August 2009.
Therefore, the government is to take a decision at a meeting whether
to dissolve these two local government institutions, Minister
Rambukwella added. Sri Lanka is to co-host the World Cup Cricket
tournament which will commence in Dhaka on February 19, 2011. The
country will host 12 matches including one semi-final at Pallekele in
Kandy, R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and Sooriyawewa in Hambantota. The
first match in Sri Lanka will be on February 20 at Sooriyawewa in
Hambantota and the last match will be at the R Premadasa Stadium in
Colombo on March 29.
The elections for the local bodies in these locations will be held
after the World Cup.
Meanwhile, the Minister refuted rumours of a ban on mini skirts.
“However, there should be a proper and decent dress code when visiting
public or religious places,” he said. “Sri Lanka is not an exception, as
almost all countries follow such dress codes when visiting specific
places and areas,” the Minister said. |
