Review Committee seeks more time; PC polls further delayed
Posted on September 21st, 2018

By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island

The Delimitation Review Committee (DRC) chaired by UNP leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed Speaker Karu Jayasuriya that it needs two additional months to carry out its task and this will further delay the Provincial Council polls.

Speaker Jayasuriya’s Office, yesterday, confirmed the DRC’s request.

The Speaker announced the appointment of the DRC on Aug 28 soon after parliament overwhelmingly rejected the delimitation report submitted by Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha. Earlier the DRC was to submit its report to President Maithripala Sirisena within two months to pave the way for long delayed polls for three PCs early next year.

Other members of Wickremesinghe’s committee are R.M.A.L. Ratnayake, Periyasamy Muthulingam, Professor Balasundarampillai and Dr A.S.M. Naufal.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Chairman and senior JO spokesman Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday told The Island that the government was somehow trying to delay PC polls for obvious reasons.

Speaker’s Office said that party leaders yesterday discussed the DRC’s move and ways and means to expedite the process leading to PC polls.

By October this year, three more PCs would cease to function. Three PCs ceased nearly a year ago.

The Joint Opposition last night said that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa would chair a media briefing at his Wijerama residence on Saturday (Sept 22) to explain their position regarding the latest government move.

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