Cabinet approves drafting of bill to allow recalling of LG Election nominations

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval, subject to adoption at the next meeting, to make necessary provisions for the recalling of nominations for Local Government (LG) Elections.

Speaking at the Cabinet press conference held today (03), Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Bandula Gunawardena stated that it has been observed that over 900,000 voters who were included in the renewed 2024 voters’ list are at risk of losing the right to vote and the right for the candidacy as a result of the indefinite postponement of the 2023 LG Election.

Furthermore, he highlighted that although all the citizens above 18 years of age should be allowed to exercise their right to vote as per the Article 4 of the Constitution, voters who were included into the voters’ list in 2024 will lose the opportunity to vote in an election in which the acceptance of nominations were concluded in January 2023.

Additionally, the Cabinet Spokesman expressed that provision should be made for 25% youth representation in nominations submitted for local government bodies following the passing of Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act No 30 of 2023, and that, however, this provision has also been overlooked as the relevant nominations were called in 2023.

Thus, it has been decided to direct the legal draftsman to prepare a Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill including necessary provision after consulting the Election Commission, in a manner that empowers the election regulatory body to recall the nominations for the aforesaid election and to hold the election based on the updated 2024 voters’ list, in order to address the said issues.

However, the joint proposal submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers by Prime Minister as the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government and the Minister of Justice pertaining to the matter has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, subject to adoption at the next meeting.