The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, during today’s debate on the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill, our Local Government Minister and Government Members highlighted the importance of holding the elections. But looking at some Opposition contributions, it appears they have forgotten the relevant history.

¶ 02 There are ample reasons in society why the local government election should be held and why local authorities must be activated. However, knowing the inevitable defeat awaiting them, some think it would be better to delay a little longer. Even if you delay, the result will be the same: the NPP Government will emphatically win all local authorities. We can state that with assurance.

¶ 03 Many have forgotten what happened when this election was earlier postponed. Parliament was used for theatrics. The election due on 9 March 2023 was postponed. The then President Ranil Wickremesinghe cited lack of Rs. 10 billion. The budgeted cost was around a few billion rupees; they claimed the money was not available. A Member said even the same Secretary is still at Finance. Indeed, the then Secretary was not allowed to release funds; when the Minister says “no funds,” a Secretary cannot release funds. Such things happened.

¶ 04 When the Election Commission proceeded to conduct the poll, one Commission Member resigned, knowing the Government opposed holding it. After that, only three Members remained; they received death threats and required 24-hour police protection. Why? Because the Commission exercised its power to announce the election, while the Government did not want it held.

¶ 05 The Supreme Court, with Justice Suresh Chandra Surasena and others, delivered a judgment regarding holding local elections. What did Ranil Wickremesinghe’s group do? Using Premnath C. Dolawatte, a close friend of Namal Rajapaksa, they tried to use Parliament to summon Supreme Court Judges who delivered that decision before the Ethics and Privileges Committee—since they could not overturn the judgment, they alleged breach of privilege. When the Election Commission stood up for the people’s right to vote, they were threatened with death; lawyers had to protest on the streets to stop summoning Supreme Court Judges before the Ethics and Privileges Committee. Those who did these things now lecture us about democracy.

¶ 06 Investigations into Lasantha Wickrematunge’s murder are still not over; neither is the Ekneligoda case. Assaults on Keith Noyahr, the ‘Sirasa’ arson, the attack on the Divaina editor—many incidents against media. Today some Opposition Members tell us not to threaten media. Who did the threatening? Look in the mirror and see history.

¶ 07 Then, the Finance Secretary refused funds then because the Government said no. Today our Government says elections must be held. The present Finance Secretary does not say “no.” He stands with the Government’s position. Back then, officials were used, Parliament was used, and the Election Commission was threatened to stop the poll set for 9 March 2023. But now, two years later, we are working to hold it.

¶ 08 We all know local authorities handle people’s issues from birth to death: preschools, cemeteries, playgrounds, rural roads, garbage collection. Today, the functioning is weakened. People bring these issues to us on public days, asking MPs and Ministers to intervene since the system is inactive, and DDCs and PDCs have to step in. Some say “hold the election”; others really aim to delay it, though they do not say so clearly.

¶ 09 There is a constitutional institutional framework representing people’s sovereignty; our Government takes decisions within it. The Supreme Court has ordered to hold the election expeditiously. When moving to implement it, a technical question arises whether to accept old nominations. We cannot use old nominations submitted two years ago; political circumstances have changed. New people must contest; youth must be brought in; women play a major role. Over 20 women MPs in this House represent the NPP. We must also enhance women’s contributions in local bodies. Therefore, we bring this Special Provisions Bill so old nominations lapse and new ones can be submitted.

¶ 10 Those who cut off electricity during A/L exams earlier now tell us not to hold elections during exams. O/Ls end on 27 March. The Budget Debate goes on until 21 March. By 27 March, exams are over. These crocodile tears over the local election are not for nothing; they know the outcome with this Budget.

¶ 11 To implement our policies and programme, we have allocated over Rs. 1,300 billion this year for capital expenditure. Local authorities have a big responsibility in rural development: roads, culverts, cemeteries. Therefore, they must be activated. We are ready to hold the local elections quickly and establish the authorities.

¶ 12 The Supreme Court ordered to hold elections “at the earliest.” A Presidential Election was held; then a General Election approaches. Due to the General Election, the local election got delayed. Now, after completing legal provisions, we must hold the local elections. Local authorities are the best platform to make people stakeholders in governance and to choose their own grassroots representatives. We are preparing to conduct the election according to the court’s decision. There are no upcoming elections otherwise; thus, implementing the judgment is essential.

¶ 13 As a Government, we must protect the independence and supremacy of the law. Therefore, at the first opportunity, we are intervening to hold the local election. We will make necessary legal amendments to resolve technical issues. If a genuine national emergency or disaster affects a region, a brief postponement is acceptable. But some in the Opposition, knowing their fate after the Presidential and General Elections, now argue to delay this election. Had the election been held on 9 March 2023, only two years would have passed. Because it was not, we had to go to court; even public servants who were our candidates faced serious problems.