• Govt. Printer sounds the alarm on Treasury delays

Even if the general Treasury releases the necessary funds to the Government Printing Department for the printing of ballot papers for the Local Government (LG) elections, there is a risk that the printing of ballot papers will be delayed if the necessary funds are not released by the Treasury to the Police, The Daily Morning learned.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (14), Government Printer Gangani Liyanage said that following the recent discussion with the Election Commission (EC), she had written two letters to Secretary to the Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies Ministry and the Treasury Mahinda Siriwardana, requesting for the release of the necessary funds, and to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne requesting to take steps to provide the necessary security for the printing of the ballot papers.

In response to the letter sent to the IGP, she said that the Police had informed her to advise on the number of police officers needed for the relevant security arrangements to be made, three or four days prior to the commencement of the printing of the ballot papers. However, she said that delays in the release of the funds required by the Police would cause a problematic situation regarding the provision of security. “The Treasury is required to release funds to the Police for election-related duties. If there is a delay in the release of the relevant funds, the Police may say that they are not able to provide security until the relevant payments are received. If such a situation arises, the printing work will be delayed even if the Government Printing Department receives the necessary funds,” she explained.

Meanwhile, when queried by The Daily Morning regarding the Treasury’s failure to release the relevant funds to the Government Printing Department and the Police, EC Chairman Attorney Nimal G. Punchihewa said on Monday (13) that the EC had requested the Treasury that the relevant funds be released for purposes related to the elections. The Treasury’s failure to release the funds by the end of this week would result in the EC discussing and taking a decision regarding the matter, he further said.