Parties get set for undated LG polls
Although uncertainty looms large over the dates of the long overdue local council polls, the main political parties are in full swing with preparations and have called for applications from ‘would-be’ candidates.
Last week, the United National Party, the main constituent party of the Unity Government, started an islandwide campaign to enrol some three million new members in a bid to strengthen the party ahead of the local council elections.
Minister and party spokesman Gayantha Karunatilleke told the Sunday Times the party's main objective was to strengthen its voter base at the grassroots level and the drive to enlist new members was part of this programme.
"At local elections, the people usually vote for the party in power as they believe it would help the councils to carry on with the development activities without difficulty. Therefore, we are confident of victory," he said.
He alleged that the former government has demarcated the wards according to their needs where some boundaries were drawn according to the wishes of former Minister Basil Rajpaksa. “Under the new system it will be disadvantageous for parties that have broken up," he said.
Minister of Petroleum Resources Development Chandima Weerakkody who represents the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in the United Peoples Freedom Allaince (UPFA) said his party is in the process of selecting candidates for the local elections while carrying on with its membership drives.
“In addition we are in the process of having meetings to carry out organizational work. Since the SLFP has served the people at the grassroots level it will not be difficult to win the elections," he said.
Acknowledging that there has been a delay in conducting elections due to the issues related to the demarcation of wards, Minister Weerakody stressed that Government needs to complete the work of drawing the boundaries and conduct elections as soon as possible.
The Peoples Liberation Front (JVP) sharply criticised the partners of the unity government for deliberately delaying the polls which has caused problems to the public as local authorities are without a political body to conduct their affairs.
"It is because of the divisions in the SLFP that the elections have been delayed. On the other hand the UNP also does not want to face elections as it has not been able to do anything to support its members and also made a mess by increasing the VAT," JVP Parliamentarian Vjitha Herath said.
He said that his party’s position is that the elections should be held under the old system as the new constitution is still under preparation and a new electoral system is yet to be introduced.
UPFA Parliamentarian Bandula Gunawardena noted that the main reason for delaying the polls is because government members are unable to go to the villages to ask for votes as they have failed to carry out their duties.
“In some areas even the roads have not been maintained for two years. The collection of garbage is at a standstill and dengue is spreading fast," he said.
The committee appointed to look into discrepancies regarding demarcation of boundaries and alleged shortcomings of the Delimitation Report said it is planning to finalize its report by mid-August and hand it over to the Government.
Asoka Peiris who heads the committee, told the Sunday Times that their mandate was to revisit the present boundary lines. So far the committee has received 1,900 complaints in respect of the 4,800 wards.
“We have re-ajusted most of the ward boundaries.We cannot increase or decrease votes, but only adjust the boundary lines. If there is a multi-member seat one ward can be made into two,” he said.
The Elections Commissioner has already said that after the proclamation is made, a minimum of 56 to 72 days may be required before the elections could be conducted.