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| Saturday, 2 March 2002 |
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Politics | |
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| Local elections in several councils to be postponed? by Jayantha Sri Nissanka The Local Government elections in six Councils is likely to be postponed due to logistic problems, political sources told the Daily News. Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayaka had hinted this to the PA delegation who met him yesterday afternoon. The Appeal Court on Thursday quashed the decision of the Election Commissioner rejecting nomination papers of the PA in Ratnapura, Mihintale, Thiruppane, Hali Ela and the LSSP nomination papers for Kesbewa Pradeshiya Sabaha. Another such decision was given for an Independent group for the Kalutara Pradeshiya Sabaha yesterday. Similar applications are yet to be decided next week, sources added. The Commissioner turned down the delegation's proposal to allow each candidate's agent to be present at counting centres because there would not be enough room for so many persons. But he had agreed to provide forms to agents who have been nominated by the Party Secretary to mark preferential votes of their candidates. They have also informed the Commissioner that most of the authorised agents of the PA, nominated by its Secretary are in prison. This includes General Anuruddha Ratwatte and others. The Commissioner agreed to accept the new names. The delegation also raised the matter of getting down foreign election observers but the Commissioner said that he had informed the Commonwealth Countries, European Union, United Nations and Asian Organisations but so far nobody had yet responded. The delegation had pointed out that the Commissioner cannot indefinitely postpone the election. They have also noted that the Government servants who had taken leave for the election will face difficulties. The Elections Commissioner had told the delegation that the 17th Amendment has not given him enough powers to prohibit the use of Government properties in the local Government polls. He has said that he can only make a direction to the Government in power but if the Government does not comply with it, he is helpless. The PA delegation who met the Elections Commissioner comprised messrs D. M. Jayaratne, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Dinesh Gunawardana, Raja Collure Prof. Tissa Vitarana and Sugu Izadeen. |
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