President instructs to complete demarcation of local government areas by 31 October

The President has instructed relevant authorities to complete demarcation of local government areas before 31 October, Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena has said.

Addressing a media briefing at the SLFP headquarters Minister Abeywardena said the President does not expect to postpone any election.

The Election Commission has clearly stated that the delay in holding the local government election is due to the delay in completing the demarcation of local government areas, the Minister pointed out.

The Committee appointed for boundaries determination (demarcation) has been given time until October to submit the final report and it has finished the delimitation in 16 districts so far. Minister of Provincial Council and Local Government Faizer Mustapha said that the Local Government elections are not being delayed by him in an unfair manner, but, have to wait for the committee’s final report.

According to Minister Mustapha, the committee was given time until October as requested by them and all the political parties representing Parliament have also requested him not to hold the election until the delimitation is completed.

Minister Abeywardena said the President intends to hold the next parliamentary election as a mixture of both preferential voting system and first pass the post system.