Government is responsible for election delays - Mahinda Deshapriya

Colombo (News1st) - Chairman of the National Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya says the Government is accountable for the delay in holding elections. He made these statement on the Pathikada program aired on Sirasa TV. Deshapriya notes that a ruling was given by the Supreme Court recently regarding the delay in holding the elections. The Elections Commission chairman noted that the commission appeared before the Supreme Court and made submissions that they cannot hold the elections until the subject Minister amends the act and gets it approved from Parliament. The Supreme Court had then ruled that the Government is responsible for the delay in holding the elections. The Chairman of the elections commission notes that there are those who claim that the new election act is no longer valid. He states that he has called on them to hand over an official document stating this so that they can begin work for the election. Deshapriya states that is all this is wrapped up by October, they will be able to finalise the 2018 voter registry and hold the elections for 6 provincial councils at the end of the year or the beginning of next year. He also called on the general public to check their voter registry in order to ensure that their names are included in it, as the 2018 voter registry would be used for both the upcoming provincial council and Presidential elections.