September poll for balance local bodies

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Elections to the remaining 23 Local Government institutions are likely to be held in September, Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the media yesterday. The minister said that the party leaders would discuss the matter shortly and the most likely period for the polls was in September.

He said so while replying to queries raised by the media during the weekly meeting to announce cabinet decisions at the government information department.

If held in September it would be the third phase of Local Government elections.

The first phase was held in March this year while the second phase elections to 65 bodies were held on Saturday (July 23). The terms of the above local bodies were to end on March 31 this year. But their terms were extended due to requests from various sectors to facilitate the conduct of the World Cup of Cricket which was held in Sri Lanka during the same period (March – April).