The Election Commission says that it has sent a letter to President Ranil Wickremesinghe asking him to provide the necessary funds for holding the local government elections.
The Election Commission stated that, as the Finance Minister, the relevant letter was forwarded to the President recently.
The Election Commission stated that the letter sent by the Commission to the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance to provide money for the election, as the Secretary of the Ministry has forwarded the letter to the Minister of Finance for the approval of the Minister of Finance.
The Chairman of the Election Commission, Mr. Nimal Punchihewa, lawyer, stated that under the current situation, the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance has informed that his approval is not sufficient for the release of money for the election.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Finance has informed in his letter that the approval of the President as the Minister of Finance is also required for the release of money required for the local government elections.
Due to non-payment of money, the local government election scheduled to be held on the 9th had to be postponed.
The election is scheduled to be held on April 25.
It was decided when the Supreme Court issued an interim order to the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and to the Attorney General on behalf of the Minister of Finance stating that the money allocated to the local government vote in the 2023 budget will not be withheld.