INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Election Commission has sought an explanation from the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration about the letter he had sent
out to Returning Officers with regard to the city government election.Accordingly, ministerial secretary Neil Bandara Hapuhinna, who was
summoned by the election body today, has actually apologized if any inconvenience brought on by the stated letter.On January 09, Hapuhinna,
in a letter addressed to all Returning Officers, advised them to stop accepting the deposits put by the prospects for the local government
election, till more notification, mentioning a choice taken by the Cabinet of Ministers.Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, in a video
statement provided the following day, knocked the efforts to hold off the local government election and gotten in touch with the federal
government not to have fun with individualss right to vote.Hapuhinna, who found himself in hot water over the matter, recalled the letter
simply a day after it was issued.Later, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) also condemned the relocation, stressing that any attempt to
hinder the exercise of the franchise and any effort to avoid individuals from exercising their sovereign right to choose their
representatives is a blatant attack on the guideline of law and democracy of Sri Lanka.
