PM promises local authority elections

By Ashwin Hemmathagama 

– Our Lobby Correspondent

The Joint Opposition parliamentary group’s efforts to draw a parallel between a chairman of a local authority and field officers by highlighting the respective involvement in allocating and distributing relief in a particular area, which could influence voters, were rejected in Parliament yesterday.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, refusing to accept that the activities of a chairman of a local authority and a field officer engaged in development, welfare, economic, social or health in a particular area were similar and violated fundamental rights, said: “A chairman of a local authority makes allocations for a particular area but not for individuals or families. But a public officer who is engaged in field-based activities makes allocations for individuals and families.”

Assuring Parliament that all possible efforts are being taken to hold local authority elections, the Prime Minister said: “We amended the Local Authority Elections Bill during the last Parliament week. Many amendments were moved during the committee stage. Most of the issues raised now have been debated prior to the passage of the bill and obtaining House approval. We will hold elections at the end of this year or during the first week of January 2018. We will hold the elections according to what was approved.”

However, leaving room for further improvement of the act, with plans to apply some of the principles in it for other elections, Wickremesinghe said: “The new electoral system may not be perfect but let’s experiment with it. In case modifications are required, we could bring in more amendments later. The election will get further delayed if we continue to debate on the same and bring in more amendments now. It is a matter of getting the party leader’s consent for the elections with the budget looming.”