Faizer to ensure Local Government polls in January

• Pledges to ready all regulations to hold elections in Jan 
• To present amendments to create six new Pradesheeya Sabhas to Cabinet 
•  Amendments to form four new Sabhas in Nuwara Eliya to be presented to P’liment on Wednesday   

Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faizer Mustapha yesterday said that he will ensure all necessary legislations will be passed so that elections can be held in January, including amendments to correct a distortion in a clause in the Sinhala version of the newly passed local Government Elections Act. 

“I will present the amendments to create six new Pradesheeya Sabhas to the Cabinet on Tuesday, and on Wednesday we will present it to Parliament,” he said, assuring all regulations will be ready to hold elections in January. The Minister made these remarks at a press conference held at the Ministry to discuss preparations for local government elections. 

“I can’t decide elections, but I can prepare the pitch. I have not been idling; I have been working to ensure these regulations are in place,” he said, responding to allegations levelled against him regarding the delay in local government elections. 

He further said that the Sainthamaruthu Pradesheeya Sabha, a promise made by the Prime Minister to the people of Kalmunai, has been formed. However, the current demand for four Pradesheeya Sabhas cannot be entertained outright. 

“Everything was done to form the Saydamarudu Pradeshiya Sabha. Now they want four Pradesheeya Sabhas. But we cannot do it, without discussing with the Political parties and civil societies,” he said.

The amendments needed to form six new Pradesheeya Sabhas in the Central Province will be presented to Parliament on Wednesday.  



Explaining the Sinhala version has a mistake on a line referring to minority parties and communities holding minority views, he said amendments are needed to correct the mistake. However the Minister guaranteed that this amendment will not delay the elections further. 

“I have taken this to the Cabinet already to ensure that this correction doesn’t cause a delay. I plan to include a line to ensure that the change is effective from the date the Speaker signs the bill. Without the correction we cannot hold the election as it is a distortion. The clause says that when a minority party receives less that 20 percent vote, and less than three seats, then there is no mandatory female representation. But this clause has been distorted in the Sinhala legislation, not in the English and Tamil. This is not my fault, but a mistake made by one of the officials,” he said. 

Defending his position saying that the process of delimitation was out of his hand he dispelled rumours circulating in political circles that he was stalling the elections for political gain.

“There was no point in blaming me, all the political parties had their representatives in the committee. Without ensuring the views were conveyed to the committee, they have been attacking me in the media. That is ok if they want to gain political mileage from this too. But I have done my duty properly,” Mustapha said.