LG polls on time – chairman, election commission

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – The Election Commission (EC) is determined to hold Local Government (LG) polls a minimum of two weeks prior to March 20th, 2023, as all LG bodies have to be constituted by that day according to the law, Chairman of the EC, S.G.Punchihewa said yesterday.

As such, the EC has tentatively decided to hold LG polls in late February 2023, he added.

The government extended the term of office of 275 Pradeshiya Sabhas, 41 Town Councils and 24 Municipal Councils on January 11th by one year up to 19th of March 2023 after the four year term of office of 340 LG bodies had expired by then.

“The EC expects to certify the 2022 electoral register by the end of this month enlisting those who completed 18 years of age by end of February this year. There after, we have to prepare a supplementary list that carries the names of those who have completed 18 years of age by September 30th. Therefore, the electoral register of 2022 will be completed only by mid November enabling the EC to announce LG polls in early 2023,” Punchihewa told.