Govt. accused of resorting to cheap tactics to delay LG polls

By Saman Indrajith

The government was accused in parliament yesterday of resorting to cheap tactics to delay the local government elections.JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that a motion was listed to be submitted in the form of a Private Member’s motion to amend the composition of nominations after the Elections Commission has announced dates for the submission of nominations.

“The objective in this new motion is to create a conflict in the existing Act on Local government elections. Now, the Elections Commission has announced the dates for the nominations. The political parties are preparing their nomination lists. In the meantime, a bill is moved as a private member motion to change the composition of nominations lists. If this motion is passed before the date of submission of nominations lists, that would create a crisis. The new motion has been brought in the name of allocating more representation to youth in the nominations lists. We are not against giving more room for the youth in the nominations lists, but this latest tactic is aimed at disrupting the forthcoming election process,” Dissanayake said.

The motion was listed to be submitted to the House by Colombo District SLPP MP Premanath C Dolawatte.Opposition and SJB Leader, Sajith Premadasa said that there is a doubt in the minds of all that whether this government would let the election process to proceed without any hindrance.

“There is a serious doubt that this government would disrupt the elections process. Many are wondering whether the government will allow the election to proceed. Nominations have been called and dates for accepting nominations have been announced, but the government is either directly or indirectly sending out messages that there is no money for elections,” said Premadasa.

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakse said that neither the government nor parliament has the power to issue directives to the national election commission, an independent body mandated with conducting elections.Rajapakse said that the government would not get in the way of the election commission exercising its mandate.

Opposition rank MPs shouted slogans in protest when Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena attempted to present a report to the House on Local Government Elections amendments.  The opposition MPs said that it was another ruse to postpone the election. They shouted that the government was depriving the rights of people to vote and elect members to the local government bodies.

Prime Minister Gunawardena said that he was presenting the report as per the provisions of the Parliament Standing Orders and the debate on the report is scheduled to be taken on a future date.

Parliament Sittings commenced yesterday for the New Year at 09.30am and time was allotted for Questions for Oral Answers from 09.30am to 10.30 am.Thereafter, from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm the Second reading debate on Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill and Recovery of Possession of Premises Given on Lease Bill was taken.