Claims of  Julie Chang immaterial, LG election is held on a day of Ranil’s choice

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The local government election was postponed. A few months ago, The National Alert revealed that this is happening. However, American Ambassador Julie Chung issued a statement yesterday stating that the LG election is essential. No matter what ever says, the LG election will not be held soon.

As of now, both election the local government (LG) and provincial councils (PC)  have been postponed. The last LG election was held in 2018. Accordingly, it expired in 2022.

The last PC election was not held in one day. The Eastern, North Central and Sabaragamuwa PC elections were held in 2012. North West and Northern PC in 2013. Uva and Southern PC in 2014. That is, some PCs have expired for more than 6 years.

The PC elections were scheduled to be held during the time of President Sirisena. But there they decided to hold the election in a new system. Accordingly, the Delimitation Commission tasked to prepare  a new system. But the duly prepared Delimitation Committee’s report was defeated when it was submitted to the Parliament. Accordingly, the new system, which was prepared spending crores of rupees, was thrown into the trash.

In the meantime, President Sirisena tried to hold the election in the old system, ignoring the Delimitation Commission, but the Supreme Court said that it was not possible.

At present, the Ranil-Rajapaksa government has decided to hold the LG elections in a new system. Accordingly, the Delimitation Commission informed to prepare a new system. Upon said preparation, it is to be produced to the Minister in charge, and  approval requires from the Cabinet and Parliament.Further It should be remembered that the Head  of the Delimitation Commission is, Mahinda Deshapriya, who is a cold rouge.

As mentioned above, since the Delimitation Commission has been entrusted to prepare a new system LG election cant not be held by old system. It is so according to the theory of judicial precedent. (According to Article 129(1) the decision given by the Supreme Court to President Sirisena in 2017)

However, there is a favorable situation for the government regarding the holding of the election, both constitutionally and practically. If the election is held under the old system, the number of representatives to be selected is 8356. Under the new system, it has been reduced to 4000.

According to the old system, the total number of people’s representatives who are appointed to LG, PC  and parliament is 9012. According to that, one out of every 2350 people living in Sri Lanka is an MP otherwise people’s representative. But there are less than 20 heart surgeons in the country.

Fats being so,  no one can prevent the proposal that reduce MPs. It is difficult to predict the time that will take to implement the new system, but it will take remarkable  time. in other words claims of Julie Chang is immaterial, the LG election is held on a day of Ranil’s choice