Northern Provincial Council Election in September 2013

Sri Lanka Government has decided to hold the Northern Provincial Council in September 2013. This has been disclosed exclusively by the Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Minister of Traditional Industries & Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda told Asian Tribune that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has told him that he will be holding the elections for the Northern Provincial Council in September 2013.

Minister Douglas Devananda told Asian Tribune that he took up the matter with the President after the announcement of the dissolution of the of three councils -- eastern, north central and south eastern prematurely a year ahead of the expiry of their terms.

He said that President has told him that they need some more time to complete the demining in the Northern Province, resettle the entire internally displaced persons, also to settle them in the newly constructed houses by the government as well as the 50,000 houses that are being constructed on the Indian Government aid.

It seems President also has told Minister Douglas Devananda that the government needs time to prepare a new voters list based on the recent census.

Only on the other day department of Census and Statistics released the preliminary report of the census report and it is expected the Election Department will prepare the electoral Register once the complete census report is released.

Minister Douglas Devananda told Asian Tribune that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has assured him that the Northern Provincial Council elections will be held according to the schedule.

He further said that the President has categorically told him that he will not be able to release him from the cabinet of Ministers to contest in the Provincial Council, as his services as a senior cabinet Minister is very much needed in the national interest of the country.

In the meantime nominations from recognized political parties and independent groups for the Eastern, Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial Council election will be accepted from July 12 to 19 noon at District Secretaries, the Elections Department said.

Furthermore "If there is is a contest due to acceptance of more than one nomination, the election will be held on Saturday on September 1, 8 or 15," Elections Department said.

- Asian Tribune -

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