By: Isuru Parakrama
Colombo (LNW): The printing of ballot papers for the Local Government Election may further delay in the backdrop where no funds were released to the Department of Government Printing, said Government Printer Gangani Liyanage.
Speaking to media, the Government Printer reminded that although about Rs. 200 million should have been allocated for printing, only Rs. 40 million has received this far, and revealed that the Finance Ministry, despite being informed on March 08 that over Rs. 500 million has been estimated for the printing affairs of the Polls, has made no response whatsoever.
The Department of Government Printing, therefore, is not able to recommence the printing affairs and the portion of Rs. 200 million should be released in this regard, she added, warning that even if the Dept receives the said allocation within next week, it may not be able to hand over the postal ballot papers to the Election Commission before March 20, 2023.
Further strengthening the arguments raised by critics on the government’s alleged attempt to disregard the people’s franchise, the date of holding the Local Government Polls has once again led itself into uncertainty. If the Election Commission fails to receive the postal ballot papers before March 20, the postal voting for the LG Polls may not be held as declared on March 28. Currently, plans are underway to distribute the postal ballot papers to the polling centres from March 21 onwards.
