Ministry Secretary says controversial letter based on Cabinet decision

By Ranil Dharmasena

Public Administration Ministry Secretary Neel Bandara Hapuhinna told The Island that he had written to District Secretaries asking them not to accept deposits for the election earlier this week following a decision taken by the Cabinet.

He said that he had specifically said why the letter had been sent.Election observers say that the District Secretaries had been appointed Returning Officers for the election by the Elections Commission and only the Commission has the power to instruct them over polls related matters.