EC to hold preliminary discussions in preparation for LG polls

The Election Commission of Sri Lanka will meet with all of its deputy and assistant election commissioners representing the 25 districts today at its office in Rajagiriya in preparation for Local Government elections expected to be held next year. 

Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa said a series of meetings have been scheduled this week for the purpose. Yesterday, the Commission met with the District Secretaries of each district in the first of its planned discussions. 

Meanwhile, the Commission on Wednesday night appointed returning officers and deputy returning officers through an Extraordinary Gazette issued under the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance.

The Gazette named District Secretaries of each relevant district as the returning officer for the district while the Deputy Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner of Elections in the district was appointed as the Assistant Returning Officer. 

The Opposition has been pushing the Government and the Election Commission to hold Local Government polls early next year while accusing the Government of attempting to use various underhand tactics to further delay elections. Certain groups in the Opposition have gone as far as to accuse the Commission of being complicit in a conspiracy to delay polls in support of the current Government.