December 04, Colombo (LNW): TThe Cabinet of Ministers has approved the drafting of the Local Government Elections (Special Provisions) Bill to enable the withdrawal of nominations submitted for the 2023 Local Government (LG) Elections and initiate a fresh nomination process.
Speaking at a Cabinet briefing yesterday (3), Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the decision to draft the bill was initially made during the Cabinet meeting held on September 2, 2024.
This decision aligns with an agreement reached at a party leaders’ meeting on November 25, chaired by the Speaker and attended by leaders of recognised political parties, where it was agreed to revoke the 2023 nominations and call for new ones.
Following this consensus, the Cabinet approved a proposal by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare the required legislation. The proposed bill will grant the Election Commission the authority to withdraw previous nominations and initiate a new nomination process for the upcoming elections.
Dr. Jayatissa highlighted that the measure aims to safeguard voters’ rights and create more opportunities for youth participation in the electoral process by encouraging fresh nominations.
