Elections in 268 LG Bodies

Nominations from Jan 20-27:

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

Nominations will be accepted for the Local Government Elections from January 20 to 27, an Election Department official said.

The one year extension given to Local Government Authorities on April 1, 2010 was curtailed at midnight Thursday ending their terms of office.

Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister A L M Athaulla issued a special gazette notification curtailing their terms according to the powers vested in him.

In accordance with the curtailment, Local government Elections will probably be held in March. However the exact date will be announced later by the Elections Commissioner. Voters who are eligible for casting postal votes have to apply for their postal votes from Monday, January 10, the official added. Elections will be held in 268 Local Government Bodies out of the total of 330 Municipal Councils, Town Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas.

Accordingly, out of 270 Pradeshiya Sabhas elections will be held for 228 Pradeshiya Sabhas. Out of 42 Town Councils election will be conducted for 40 Town Council . Election for the 18 Municipal Councils will not be held since their terms of office have not been curtailed. The Local Government Bodies in areas where World Cup Cricket matches will be played were not curtailed. Accordingly, Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas in Pallekele and Kundasale in the Kandy district, Kolonnawa, Kotte, Dehiwala and Mount Lavinia in the Colombo District, Suriyawewa in the Hambantota district were not curtailed aiming to ensure the smooth functioning of Cricket World Cup matches. The term of office of the other Local Government bodies will go on until March 31, 2011 and elections will be held after the World Cup.