The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Very well. Within that minute, let me clarify my challenge. Hon. Chithral Fernando came here and said I raised a challenge. Hon. Presiding Member, I have before me matters relating to the Provincial Council elections — much discussion exists, within the Opposition and among us, about whether the vote should be by open ballot or by secret ballot.

¶ 02 Hon. Member, the final circular dated 2025.06.14 clearly states at its end from the Commissioner of Local Government:

¶ 03 “In selecting the voting method, actions shall be taken in accordance with the powers and responsibilities vested in the Commissioner of Local Government under the relevant law, and the responsibility for decisions in this regard shall be discharged by the Commissioner of Local Government in terms of that law.”

¶ 04 The date is Saturday, 2025.06.14. In that final letter there is no mention whether the ballot is open or secret. That is my challenge.

¶ 05 Therefore, Hon. Presiding Member, under this discretionary power of the Commissioner of Local Government, they are now conducting various votes to select Chairmen in different provinces. I hear one such is in progress in the Central Province; that is true — under discretionary power. For the Western Province too, perhaps another approach is taken as to whether it is open or secret. That discretionary power is not something to be questioned here by Members or by the gallery. If you wish to question it, go to court. No one shouting here today has challenged the Commissioner’s power before the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal. Instead, they come here and falsely claim the Commissioner has no power and is wrong. My challenge is that in the final letter, it is not clearly stated whether it is open or secret; it merely directs adherence to the law. Thank you.