(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils Faizer Mustapha this morning signed the gazette notification pertaining to the new Mixed Electoral System under which the Local Government Elections will be held in January next year.
At a press briefing held in Colombo today the Minister said now all the impediments to holding local government election will be solved. The gazette notification will be sent to the Government Printing Department for publication.
According to new amendments the number of local government bodies has increased up to 341. The number of councilors has increased up to 8,356.
According to the gazette notification four new Pradeshiya Sabhas have been created in the Nuwara Eliya District. The area which comes under the purview of the Ambagamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha have been sub-divided into three areas such as Ambagamuwa, Norwood, and Maskeliya Pradeshiya Sabhas while the Nuwara Eliya Pradeshiya Sabha division have been sub-divided into three areas such as Nuwara Eliya, Agarapathana, and Kotawila Pradeshiya Sabhas.
Following the signing of the gazette notification, the Election Commission announced that the date for the calling of Local Government Elections will be issued in the coming week.
Accordingly, the Commission would issue the nomination note in the week starting after November 27. The parties and independent groups, intending to contest, will have to tender nomination papers starting from December 11 and ending at 12:00 p.m. on December 17. The nominations will be accepted during a three and a half day period between December 11 and 20.
The Commission according to the Local Government Elections Act will select a date between January 25 and 31 other than a Sunday or a government holiday to hold the polls.
Definite dates will be announced after future meetings of the Election Commission.
