• Cancels 2023 nominations and calls for fresh noms.

The Bill for the Amendment of the Local Authorities Elections Act to enable the cancellation of the nominations submitted for the 2023 Polls and to call for fresh nominations has been gazetted.

The Bill is to be presented to the Parliament for approval on a later date. 

It is reported that the Bill for the Amendment of the said Act to cancel the nominations called for the 2023 Local Government (LG) Elections has been published in the Government Gazette as per the order of the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and LG.

According to the said Bill, the nomination papers submitted for the LG Elections which were scheduled to be held on 9 March 2023 will become invalid.

The Bill also provides for the refund of the deposits made in respect of candidates nominated by a political party or independent group.

The Bill is scheduled to be implemented after the relevant Bill is presented to the Parliament and passed.

Accordingly, the Election Commission should announce the date for calling fresh nominations for the LG Elections and it is noted that that date should be a date that is three months before the date of commencement of the said Act.