The deadline set by the Election Commission to receive postal ballot papers for the local government elections (LG) will expire tomorrow (21), with no sign that the Government Printer will be able to supply the required postal ballots by then, The Daily Morning learns.
The EC had earlier stated that postal voting of the LG elections would be held on scheduled dates which are from 28 to 31 March. However, Government Printer, Gangani Liyanage said that it was totally impossible for the ballot papers to be handed over to the EC before then, given that the Treasury had not released the required funds as of yesterday (19).
This in the backdrop of, the Finance Ministry, which is yet to release the required funds for the holding of the Local Government (LG) elections, has informed the Mass Media Media Ministry under which the Government Printing Department comes, in writing, that requests made by the latter Department for the release of the necessary funds had been forwarded to Finance Minister, President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Following a meeting with the Elections Commission (EC) on 7 March, Government Printer, Gangani Liyanage had requested the Treasury Operations Department under the Finance Ministry to release required funds for printing ballot papers for the LG election. As there had been no response from the said Department to the initial request, she had again made a request last week, with copies to the EC.
Accordingly, The Daily Morning contacted Liyanage and queried as to whether she had received any funds or response from the Finance Ministry as of yesterday (19).
Responding to the query, she said: “We have not received any money. Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies Ministry and Treasury Secretary, Mahinda Siriwardana had informed the Mass Media Ministry Secretary that our request had been forwarded to the subject Minister (Wickremesinghe).”
The Daily Morning also asked State Minister of Finance, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya regarding the latest situation with regard to the release of funds for the LG elections, and he replied: “I am not aware of it as of now. This is a matter to which I should respond responsibly, and I will be able to make a comment tomorrow (20).”