Mullaitivu polls: Nominees get back deposits with interest

Candidates who filed nomination papers to contest local polls in Mullaitivu six years ago are to be given back their deposits with interest as the nominations papers have been revoked.

A gazette notification was issued this week revoking the nomination papers. It notes that some of the candidates have died or have been displaced or have changed their parties, while the youth nominees have grown above the stipulated age of thirty-five. Some of the candidates have left the country.

However they will be entitled to an interest of twelve percent a year from the date the deposits were made.

The candidates representing political parties paid Rs 1,500 and independent candidates Rs 5,000 some six years ago for the Mullaithivu local polls.

The local council elections for the Pudukudyirippu and Maritimepattu Predeshiya Sabhas were postponed many times since nominations were called for in 2011. The polls were further postponed following an interim stay order issued by the Supreme Court in 2015.