The Election Commission (EC) yesterday (29) stated that while it had received the legal advice sought from the Attorney General’s (AG) Department on whether it has the power to declare the Local Government (LG) election following the adoption of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, it is however, not in a position to reveal the advice received, noting that a decision will however be taken following internal discussions.

Speaking to The Morning, EC Chairman Attorney Nimal Punchihewa emphasised that although the EC had sought advice from the AG’s Department, the advice received cannot be revealed even under the Right to Information Act, but added that the EC would hold internal discussions to make the relevant decisions.

“We are not in a position to reveal it to anyone. It is an internal matter. We will discuss within the EC and make a decision. Even under the RTI Act, the AG’s opinion cannot be revealed,” he added.

Meanwhile, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), a polls monitor, wrote to the EC on Monday (28) claiming that it is unnecessary to seek the AG’s opinion in this regard, and pointed out that EC Chairmen in the past have held elections in interim periods. Speaking to The Morning, PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi queried yesterday as to why Puncihewa cannot hold elections if former EC Chairmen Dayananda Dissanayake and Mahinda Deshapriya had held major elections in the past during an interim period.

“A similar situation occurred under the 17th Amendment to the Constitution in 2001, and at that time, the EC Chairman was empowered to carry out the relevant activities until the EC was appointed. Accordingly, Dissanayake conducted two Parliamentary elections, two Presidential elections, and several Provincial Council (PC) and LG elections under this interim situation. Due to this reason, Dissanayake could not retire, and even though he filed a petition in the Supreme Court for his retirement, the court did not allow him to do so, and instead emphasised that he must fulfill his duties until the EC is appointed,” he added.

“Under the 18th Amendment to the Constitution that passed in 2010, the EC was not appointed, and under the interim arrangements, Deshapriya conducted a Presidential election, several PC elections and LG polls. Similarly, he held Parliamentary elections under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 2019,” he noted.

Hettiarachchi urged that the EC should declare the LG poll by the first week of December since all the obstacles pointed out by the EC would no longer be applicable. “We also believe that under the interim period, the EC is already carrying out many matters such as the recognition of political parties, the preparation of voter lists, and the counting of MPs. Therefore, it is surprising that the EC, which has such experience, is seeking the opinion of the AG at this time, as it appears that there are no other obstacles, and since the revision process of the voter list, the preparation of the additional list for the youth, and correspondingly, the voters to the polling stations, would be completed by the end of November,” he added.

Hettiarachchi noted that PAFFREL had written to the EC highlighting the above facts and issues.

However, Punchihewa told The Morning in an earlier occasion that a declaration regarding the date of the LG election will be made by early next year (2023) by the EC. He noted: “Our expectation is to hold the LG election before 20 March 2023.”

Alexis Taylor, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), together with U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung, met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and other senior government officials to discuss USDA support for Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector, a statement from the US Embassy said.

Refuting reports that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa avoided meeting visiting Iranian President Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, SJB MP Nalin Bandara said yesterday that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa did not get an appointment from the Iranian Embassy to meet the Iranian President.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam on Thursday accused the infamous Tripoli platoon, a paramilitary intelligence unit, of involvement in the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019.

The ruling alliance, led by the Podu Jana Peramuna, popularly known as the Buds Party, has endorsed Ranil Wickremasinghe as its candidate for the upcoming Presidential Elections, set to take place in the third week of October, according to a reliable inside source.

ormer Minister Basil Rajapaksa met Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha yesterday (27) and discussed. The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka conveyed a X message regarding the meeting, highlighting discussions on matters of mutual interest, including the political situation.

A 30-year-old man was arrested by the Biyagama Police in Kaduwela for possession of a substantial haul of narcotics. Police said the suspect was carrying 15 kilograms of ICE, 14 kilograms of hash and 941 grams of heroin at the time of the arrest.

Ahead of the presidential election scheduled for October this year, the foreign powers have ramped up their efforts in the assessment of ground political developments as was in the case of vital elections in the past.

Refuting reports that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa avoided meeting visiting Iranian President Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, SJB MP Nalin Bandara said today that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa did not get an appointment from the Iranian Embassy to meet the Iranian President.

A soldier was killed and nine others injured when a lorry collided with an army cab at Vasanthanagar in Mankulam early this morning. Police said the lorry travelling from Mankulam to Kilinochchi, crashed onto the cab ahead of it. The injured soldiers were rushed to Kilinochchi Hospital, where one of them succumbed to injuries upon admission.

While condemning the media reports, the Milk Powder Importers’ Association said today that they had not taken any decision to reduce the retail prices of the milk powder packets in the local market. The association media spokesman, Asoka Bandara, said the statement circulated on media platforms is incorrect.

Management of Sri Lanka’s southern Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport has been awarded to a Russia and India joint venture, cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardena said.

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles told the police today that eliminating criminals from the country is not a sin and not to be afraid to use weapons. He made these remarks while participating in the passing out parade at Katukurunda STF Training camp.

The Election Commission (EC) stated that several recognised political parties have had to be set aside from the relevant list due to internal crises within the said parties. According to the official website of the EC, there are 84 recognised political parties in Sri Lanka.

In a scathing rebuttal of allegations by Malcom Cardinal Ranjith regarding the Easter Sunday attacks, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said Cardinal Ranjith either glosses over the responsibility of, or expressly absolves the two parties actually involved in the terrorist strikes.

In its first move for the formation of a broad political alliance, President Ranil Wickremesinghe had a meeting with Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) stalwart Basil Rajapaksa and representatives of other parties and groups, and decided to accelerate political work in view of the presidential election after May Day.

The rice distributed among schools said to be unsuitable for children's co consumption was provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) and not by the government, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha assured today.

Opposition Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara has raised concerns about a growing trend where Sri Lankan retired military personnel are allegedly being exploited in a scheme to send them to serve in the Russian and Ukrainian Armies.

The main Parliamentary Opposition Party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), queried about the actions taken against certain officers in the State Intelligence Service (SIS), who, in certain instances, allegedly blocked the investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) into the Easter Sunday attacks that took place in 2019.

Sri Lanka took minimal steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses, the 2023 report issued by the US State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour on Sri Lanka's Human Rights Practices has alleged.

A top delegation of the Chinese Communist Party headed by Vice Minister of the International Department, Sun Haiyan met National People's Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the JVP head office today. The delegation included head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party Liu Jianchao and Political Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka Chen Xiang Yuan.