Provincial Council elections cannot proceed until Sri Lanka removes legal barriers and completes delimitation, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa says.
Sri Lanka cannot hold Provincial Council elections simply because the Government or President wants them, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has said.
The Health and Mass Media Minister told Hiru News that legal obstacles must first be removed. He also said authorities must expedite the outstanding delimitation process before the long-delayed polls can proceed.
Current election law has created a deadlock over the electoral system and constituency boundaries. Former election officials have also said Parliament must resolve the legal framework before the Election Commission can conduct the polls.
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Jayatissa said the Government remains ready to hold Provincial Council elections once those legal requirements are completed.
During the interview, he also highlighted the Government’s anti-corruption programme.
He said ministers under the current administration had submitted their asset and liability declarations and made them public.
Jayatissa added that the Government intends to introduce further legal amendments to improve the efficiency of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.
Sri Lanka has already expanded its digital asset-declaration framework under the Anti-Corruption Act, including mandatory electronic submissions for covered officials.
The minister maintained that once Parliament establishes the necessary election framework and completes delimitation, the Government will proceed with the polls.
