Government rejects election scare claims, blames past administration’s flawed reforms and unresolved delimitation crisis for Provincial Council poll delay.
Minister Samantha Vidyarathna says the government is not afraid of holding the long delayed Provincial Council elections and insists that the postponement is due to legal and technical complications inherited from the previous administration.
Responding to opposition allegations, the Minister dismissed claims that the government is avoiding elections because its mandate has weakened. He described such rumors as completely false and politically motivated.
He explained that the former government moved to abolish the old Provincial Council electoral system and introduce a new divisional system, but failed to complete the required delimitation process properly. Although delimitation committees were appointed and public views were gathered, the final report could not be adopted due to resistance from the then Minister in charge.
As a result, the current administration inherited what he called a half completed electoral framework, making it legally risky to conduct elections under uncertain conditions.
According to the Minister, there are two practical solutions. One option is to restart the lengthy delimitation process. The other is to repeal the existing electoral laws and revert to the previous system with parliamentary approval.
He also rejected earlier opposition claims that his political movement could not secure even three percent support, noting that the government has already won public confidence and has no reason to fear a democratic mandate.
The Minister emphasized that once legal procedures are resolved, Provincial Council elections will be held without delay.
