Treasury officials have informed the Elections Commission that if the Local Government Election is to be held, finances requested by the Election Commission can be given only in installments instead of all at once.
Treasury officials made this comment, when members and officials of the Election Commission met day before yesterday (11) to discuss the financial allocations required for the Local Government elections.
According to summons issued by the Elections Commission, Treasury and Finance Ministry the officers met Election Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa and members of the commission as well as a group of officials including the Election Commissioner General Saman Ratnayake.
A senior officer said that the officials of the Election Commission have inquired about how necessary financial provisions for the Local Government elections can be provided. Finance Ministry and Treasury officials presented a complete analysis of the financial difficulties prevailing.
A member of the Election Commission said that the Finance Ministry officials, who have pointed out that the economy will shrink further if the allocated amount is provided to the Election Commission, had mentioned that concessions and relief provided to the people will have to be curtailed further.
They had also pointed out that there will be a problem of maintaining more than 8,000 local government members when they are appointed.
The officials of the Election Commission had asked how the money required for the election can be provided and the officials informed them that the amount requested by the Election Commission cannot be given immediately and can be given only in several installments.
The Finance Ministry officials had also said that it is not possible to say for sure when the money could be released in installments, similar to the fact that money will not be issued immediately.
It has been reported that, the officials of the Election Commission had not responded in this regard.
An official of the Election Commission said that these problems have arisen due to the fact that discussions which should have been held prior to calling for nominations are being held subsequent to calling for nominations.
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