The local government elections scheduled to be held in January would not be delayed due to the establishment of new local authorities, Co-Cabinet Spokesman Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.
He was addressing the weekly Cabinet Media Briefing yesterday at the Government Information Department.
Co-Cabinet Spokesman Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka said that the Cabinet has already approved criteria prepared by a committee of intellectuals on establishment of new local authorities and to upgrade existing local authorities.
“Based on these criteria it has been decided to establish three new local authorities as Ambagamuwa, Maskeliya and Norwood Pradeshiya Sabha instead of current Ambagamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha and to establish three new local authorities as Nuwara Eliya, Agarapathana and Kotagala Pradeshiya Sabhas instead of existing Nuwara Eliya Pradeshiya Sabha.” He said.
Establishment of all local authorities, including the above local authorities ,will be gazetted on November 1. The above information presented by Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Mustapha was considered by the Cabinet of ministers, he said.
Responding to a query by a journalist, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said that both UNP and SLFP organizers for Beruwala have already showed their willingness to contest under one symbol at the upcoming Local Government Election and the final decision with regard to this will be taken after discussing with them further.
According to UNP sources, both, UNP and SLFP groups, in some Pradeshiya Sabhas and Municipal Councils have also expressed their willingness to contest under a common symbol. “There is no special purpose behind this and we only want to show the unity between two parties.” Minister Senaratne said