EC to request Rs. 300 m from Treasury after running out of funds

Monday, 13 February 2023 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

EC Chairman Attorney-at-Law Nimal Punchihewa

The Election Commission (EC) is set to write to the Treasury Secretary requesting Rs. 300 million after running out of funds it had received to date for the Local Government elections.

EC Chairman Attorney-at-Law Nimal Punchihewa said the request will be put forward to the Treasury today. According to Punchihewa the EC on a previous occasion had written to the Treasury requesting Rs. 770 million from the funds allocated for the election and had received only Rs. 100 million instead.

The EC Chief said the funds received have now depleted and therefore the EC will request more funding to continue with its preparations for the Local Government election. He also confirmed that the EC is currently making the necessary preparations to hold elections as scheduled following the Supreme Court decision on the Local Government elections delivered on 10 February declaring the EC has no obstacles to hold the vote in March.

Meanwhile, the EC has also summoned secretaries of all political parties for a meeting tomorrow to discuss issues relating to the upcoming Local Government elections. Punchihewa said all political party secretaries have been informed to be present at the EC head office in Rajagiriya accordingly.