The Election Commission of Sri Lanka says it will summon the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration and inquire about the letter issued by him directing all District Secretaries to temporarily suspend accepting deposits for the Local Government election, which was later recalled. 

“We came to know that the Secretary of Public Administration had issued a letter to all District Secretaries. However, he himself has now recalled the said letter within a few hours after issuing it.”

“Nevertheless, we intend to summon him and inquire with regard to that,” the Chairman of the commission Nimal Punchihewa told reporters in Colombo today (11).  

Speaking further regarding the matter, he said that election returning officers are appointed by the Election Commission as per the Constitution of Sri Lanka and that that the gazette issued by the commission is signed by all five members of the Election Commission.

He pointed out that after the returning officers are appointed by the commission, no other institution or authority except for the Election Commission or the judiciary has any authority to issue any instructions, orders or advice to them with regard to the election.

As per the Constitution, it is the Election Commission that has complete authority to with regard to election related affairs, he emphasized. However, the chairman reiterated that they intend to seek an explanation from the Secretary to the Public Administration Ministry regarding the matter. 

The Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs & Local Government, Mr. Neil Bandara Hapuhinna had issued a letter yesterday (10) to all district secretaries instructing them to suspend accepting deposits from candidates for the upcoming local government (LG) election until further notice, pursuant to a decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers.

However, the relevant letter was recalled within yesterday itself by the ministerial secretary. 

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, slamming the attempts to defer the election, had called on the government not to play with the people’s right to vote. He accused certain advisors and officials of the presidential secretariat of being engaged in a ‘national coup’ to postpone the local government election.