The Government is yet to take a decision on holding the long-delayed provincial council (PC) election, despite the earlier predictions made by several other government members that the election would be held mid next year, according to Secretary to the Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils, and Local Government J.J. Ratnasiri.
He told The Sunday Morning that no decision had been made yet, as the Provincial Councils Act should be amended in Parliament first.
It is further learnt that the election would be delayed till mid next year.
However, in February, Minister of Labour Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the PC election would be held two months after the general election.
On an earlier occasion, State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Sarath Weerasekera said that the Government had not yet decided on a date, but the election would definitely be held as soon as holding the PC election was a constitutional requirement.
“We can’t hold the election under the present Act and it takes some time. At present, we are studying the PC system – whether the PCs are useful for the country or whether they are a burden to the Central Government,” he said.
At present, all nine PCs are not functioning right now, as their term of office has expired. The term of office of the Southern PC ended on 10 April and the term of office of the Western PC ended on 21 April.
The term of office of the Sabaragamuwa PC ended on 26 September 2017, while that of the Eastern PC ended on 30 September 2017. Further, the term of office of the North Central PC ended on 1 October 2017.
The terms of the Central, North Western, and Northern PCs ended in September 2018.
The term of office of the Uva PC ended on 8 September last year.
(The Morning)