The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the drafting of the Local Government Elections (Special Provisions) Bill to facilitate the recall of nominations for Local Government (LG) Elections.
Speaking at today’s (03) Cabinet press briefing, Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, announced that the decision was made during the Cabinet meeting on September 2, 2024. The Legal Draftsman has been instructed to prepare the bill to annul the nominations submitted for the LG Elections initially scheduled for 2023 and to arrange for fresh nominations.
Dr. Jayatissa noted that during a party leaders’ meeting held on November 25, 2024, chaired by the Speaker of Parliament and attended by leaders of recognized political parties, it was agreed to cancel the 2023 nominations and call for new ones for the upcoming LG Elections.
The proposal, submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, aims to empower the Election Commission to recall previous nominations and oversee the process of accepting new ones.
This move, Dr. Jayatissa emphasized, seeks to uphold the rights of all voters and provide opportunities for the youth to submit nominations, ensuring inclusivity and fairness in the electoral process.
