National People’s Power (NPP) Member of Parliament K. Ilankumaran claimed that Provincial Council elections will be held “without delay” but refused to give a timeline or potential date for the polls.
Speaking to the media in Jaffna on Friday, Ilankumaran stated that the elections would be conducted at the “earliest possible opportunity”. He acknowledged that the legislation required to facilitate the Provincial Council elections has yet to be enacted, but said steps are already underway to draft and pass the necessary bill in order to move forward with the process.
He emphasised that Sri Lanka’s ruling NPP government would not postpone any election “under any circumstances”, rejecting the practice of delaying democratic processes that has characterised successive governments in Sri Lanka.
However, Ilankumaran then went on to claim that that while the government currently holds a parliamentary majority and is therefore capable of passing legislation with ease, it would not exercise that power in an “authoritarian manner”.
He stated that the Provincial Council legislation would only be enacted after consulting the public and taking the views of the people into account.
Drawing a contrast with past administrations, Ilankumaran said that unlike during the era of J. R. Jayewardene, the present government would not enact laws arbitrarily simply because it commands a parliamentary majority. He reiterated that only legislation formulated through public consultation and accepted by the people would be passed in Parliament.
Provincial Council elections have been repeatedly delayed for years, particularly affecting the Tamil homeland, where the absence of elected provincial governance has entrenched centralised control.
