TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran PC said on Saturday President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s claim that the local government elections had not been officially declared was absurd because the Election Commission had followed the proper procedure and nominations had been accepted. Addressing a news conference in Jaffna, Sumanthiran said that the Treasury had released about Rs. 100 million for the initial elec
tion-related expenses.
Sumanthiran said that the UNP had also filed nominations for various local authorities and launched its election campaign. “The President, who is also the Finance Minister and UNP leader, stated in Parliament that no election had been officially declared in the country. “This is the height of absurdity,” the TNA MP said, adding that the civilised world recognised that periodic elections were essential to ensure democratic governance in a country. The local government elections should not be allowed to be postponed, the MP said.