State Minister of finance Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena has told media that the Local Government election might have to be postponed indefinitely as the delimitation process can’t be completed on time.

However Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) has reliably learnt that Abeywardena’s statement is not true and that the delimitation commission, led by Asoka Peiris can hand over its report by January 2016.

CaFFE Executive Director, Keerthi Tennakoon said that CaFFE is also aware that the current delimitation commission is doing a commendable job and has addressed a number of issues that had worried a number of stakeholders in the past.

Speaking at an event organized by CaFFE earlier this week Chairman of the delimitation commission, Asoka Peiris said that they can hand over the report by January 15, 2016 and that the election can be held before April 07, 2016.

This was a statement that received wide media coverage and we are shocked and surprised to note that Abeywardena has contradicted this.

In addition during a meeting with the Elections Commission we have learnt that the Local Government Election can be held within the first week of week of April.

We believe that there is an attempt to postpone the election due to political considerations and we are opposed to any such moves. People have faced a number of issues at the grassroots due to the non-functioning Local Government bodies.

Thus we oppose any moves by the administration to postpone the Local Government election due to political reasons and urge the President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to have faith in the delimitation commission and prevent such attempts to postpone the election.