64 LG bodies go for poll today

Elections for 64 local government institutions will be held today. Elections were held for 234 of the 335 local authorities in the country on 17 March this year and the ruling party UPFA won 205 of the councils.

Elections for 34 localities were not held in March due to the hosting of Cricket World Cup and elections for another 65 councils were postponed due to legal challenges against rejection of nominations.

Two more local government institutes in the Mullaitivu District were not ready for elections as the demining operations were still in progress.

Tomorrow’s polls for 64 of the remaining 67 local government institutes will be held based on last year’s voters list, the Elections Department said.

Voters in the North go to the polls tomorrow for the first time since the defeat of the LTTE.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) of Sri Lanka said it would assign two teams of officials to monitor the elections in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi Districts in the North.

Speaking to the media District Secretary and Government Agent Jaffna Emelda Sukumar said all necessary measures have already been taken to conduct a peaceful election in the Jaffna District.

The local bodies where elections will be held are Kaduwela MC, Maharagama UC, Kesbewa Urban Council, Homagama PS, Minuwangoda PS, Attanagalle PS, Agalawatte PS, Akmeemana PS, Elpitiya PS, Baddegama PS, Matara PS, Akuressa PS, Yatinuwara PS, Harispattuwa PS, Wilgamuwa PS, Ukuwela PS, Lindula Talawakele UC, Mawathagama PS, Nikaweratiya PS, Polgahawela PS, Chilaw UC and PS, Wennappuwa PS, Navagattegama PS, Rajanganaya PS, Galnewa PS, Central Nuwaragam Palatha PS, Welikanda PS, Hingurakgoda PS, Elahera PS, Siyamabalanduwa PS, Moneragala PS, Embilipitiya UC, Balangoda PS, Ratnapura PS, Weligepola PS, Warakapola PS, Kegalle UC, Kuchchaveli UC, Seruwila PS, Kantale PS and 16 bodies in Jaffna and three in Kilinochchi.

The Appeal Court in February this year issued an interim order preventing the holding of the local government polls in Akuressa, Akmeemana and Moneragala Pradehsiya Sabhas. (www.info.gov.lk)