EC gets tough, says it won’t bow to any quarter other than courts; LG polls before 19 March

By Ranil Dharmasena

The Election Commission (EC) would hold the local government (LG) election before 19 March unless a court order prevents it, Chairman of the Commission, Nimal G. Punchihewa said.

“The members are of the opinion that elections should be held. We have jointly issued a gazette announcing the local council election, appointing returning officers, accepting deposits, etc.

Punchihewa denied rumours that the EC divided on the question of conducting LG polls at this juncture.The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (09) decided to order District Secretaries who function as Returning Officers not to accept deposits from political parties wanting to contest the polls.

Punchihewa said that on Tuesday Ministry of Public Administration Secretary Neel Bandara Hapuhinna had written to District Secretaries asking them not to accept deposits for the election. However, it has been withdrawn on the same day, he said.

“The Returning Officers are doing their duties. We will summon Hapuhinna before the Commission and asked him to explain why he sent that letter. We will take legal measures about this too. The election has been declared and it is the Commission that decided on election related matters. No one else can instruct Returning Officers we appointed,” he said.