No legal provision to hold Batti local polls - Commissioner

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya yesterday notified recognised political parties and other interested parties that until the completion of delimitation of wards of local authorities under the new amendment, there is no legal provision to hold elections to the Batticaloa Municipal Council and eight Pradeshiya Sabhas in the Batticaloa District. Further, existing vacancies of members of Municipal Council,

Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas cannot be filled as Section 65 A of the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance (Chapter 262) ie the relevant section for filling of vacancies of members of Local Authorities was amended by the aforementioned.

Issuing a release, the Elections Commissioner said: “Elections to the Batticaloa Municipal Council and eight Pradeshiya Sabhas in the Batticaloa district which were postponed due to security reasons were held on March 10, 2008. “Terms of office of these councils which were due to cease on March10, 2012 were extended by the Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister up to March 17, 2013.

“Although the issue of notices calling for nominations for these elections was scheduled within the first two weeks of January 2013, the Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister has by a notice published in the Gazette announced that the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act No 22 of 2012, which was passed by Parliament to amend the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance with regard to the issue of nominations notices and conduct of elections, will come into force on January 1,2013.

“Therefore, it is notified, for the information of recognised political parties and other interested parties that until the completion of delimitation of wards of local authorities under the new amendment, there is no legal provision to hold these elections. “Further, existing vacancies of members of Municipal Council, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas cannot be filled as Section 65 A of the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance (Chapter 262) ie the relevant section for filling of vacancies of members of Local Authorities was amended by the aforementioned.

“It is reported that the Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry is taking steps to provide legal provisions regarding filling of vacancies of the aforesaid Local Authorities through an interim provision or any other legal action.

“Therefore, interested parties and the public are informed that there is no possibility to fill existing vacancies of members of Local Authorities until such legal provisions come into force.”