Political parties gear for upcoming LG polls

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is to commence its campaign on 20 June for the forthcoming local government elections to be held for 64 bodies.

UPFA General Secretary, Minister Susil Premajayanth told the media that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has already met with the UPFA organisers of the electorates that come under the 64 local government bodies.

According to the Minister, the organisers have therefore commenced laying the groundwork for the official commencement of the election campaign on 20 June.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is to commence its local government election campaign on 1 July.

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) says the party has commenced the initial stages of the campaign and party organisers have been briefed on the work to be carried out.

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 institutions in the Mullaitivu District were not ready for elections as the de- mining operations were still in progress.

The polls for 64 of the remaining 67 local government institutions will be held on 23 July.