INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
obstruct the upcoming Local Government (LG) election is a punishable offence.Speaking at a rally in Maligawatte yesterday (20 Jan.),
Dissanayake noted that the deliberate obstruction of the upcoming election that is due to be held on 09 March, is an offence punishable by
three years of imprisonment.The NPP leader said this in regard to the affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court last evening by Siriwardena,
however, this is not the case, he emphasised.He further argued that despite claims that there are no funds to hold the election, and that by
doing so, it would only worsen the existing fuel and medicine crises, it takes only Rs
8 billion to hold the election
The recent sugar tax scandal in itself amounted to Rs
From this money itself, we can hold two elections
being given by the Secretary, it will be deemed a deliberate obstruction of the election.Treasury Secretary Siriwardena yesterday submitted
an affidavit to the Supreme Court pertaining to a writ application filed by retired Army Colonel W.M.R
Wijesundara, which, citing the prevailing economic crisis, has sought a court order to defer the local government election.In his affidavit,
deficit increased by 11.6% in that year.Explaining that the government spends a sum of Rs
90 billion on state sector salary payments, Rs
28 billion each for Samurdhi allowances and importing essential items such as medicines and fertilizer, Siriwardana explained that the
government is struggling to source funds to fulfill these essential needs of the public.In addition, the government had to incur a sum of Rs
114 billion to settle interest payments and Rs
169 billion for debt payments in the year 2022, Siriwardana added.He also recalled the decision taken by the government recently to delay
the salary payments for executive-grade employees in the state sector by a few days due to the prevailing situation.Thus, he highlighted
that election expenditure will gravely affect the fiscal condition of the country.Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Sri Lanka today
announced that the LG election will be held on 09 March, while the deadline for the application of nominations was closed at 12:00 p.m
this afternoon.The Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill was also passed in Parliament on Thursday (19 Jan.), with a majority of 61
votes.The Bill was passed in Parliament with 97 votes in favour, while 36 MPs voted against the Bill.Several political parties in the
opposition including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), however, expressed their discontent about scheduling the debate for today, citing the
organisations too, have raised concerns pertaining to the Bill, deeming the law inadequate.
