Mr. Prasanna Ranatunga, Minister of Urban Development and Housing, says that it is the responsibility of the Election Commission to provide the necessary provisions for the upcoming local government elections.
He emphasizes that the Election Commission has called nominations for the upcoming local government elections at a time when even the ministries have been cut due to the economic crisis in the country because they needed money for the elections.
Rejecting the opposition’s allegations that the government and Pohottuwa are conspiring to postpone the local government elections, the minister points out that there is no need for the government or Pohottuwa to postpone the elections.
The minister said this while attending the signing ceremony of the nomination papers of Gampaha district of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.
The nomination signing was done today (12) at the office of Minister Prasanna Ranatunga in Udugampala.
The number of local government bodies in Gampaha district is 19. Accordingly, 417 local government councilors signed their nominations for 413 divisions. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna has now signed nominations for 11 districts of the island. Nominations were signed in Gampaha, Matara and Badulla districts today. By next Saturday, Pohottuwa is going to sign and finalize his candidate nomination lists.
Mr. Prasanna Ranatunga, who gave further comments, also said,
“Pohottua is a party formed from a strong foundation at the village level. In this election, we have a strong team that can face more than all other political parties. All those candidates worked in villages and were involved in public works. A group of people who have experience, who have served the people and worked, have been nominated for this election. Our team is not a group of people who planted sweet potatoes with their mouths. It is not arrogant and useless people who are contesting this election People who have done work and proven themselves are our candidates. We have no challenge in this election. We have contested and won elections like this in more difficult times.
The problems faced as a government and the problems faced by the Election Commission are two things. As a government, we are aware of the problems faced in the past in relation to the payment of government employees’ salaries, samudree benefits, and essential goods for the people with this economic crisis. Today, the people of this country decide whether or not to hold an election at a time when the economy is being managed to some extent and the needs of the people are being fulfilled.
We all know that there is no money for elections. In the past, it was said that government employees are preparing for elections without salaries and allowances. If the Election Commissioner is ready to take responsibility for it, we are ready to face the election. We are talking about this election in the background of cutbacks in our ministries because there is a problem with allocations. Maybe because the Election Commission has money, they call for nominations. It is their responsibility to find the money needed for the election. As a party, we are preparing for the elections.
Some say, Pohottuwa is also conspiring with the government to postpone the elections. We have no desire to postpone elections. If the election commission has the vote, we will face it easily.
Ministry Media Unit
