TNA calls for postponement of Amparai local authorities' elections

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 January 2004, 12:47 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance Friday requested the Commissioner General of Elections to postpone the elections to local authorities in the Amparai administrative district from 22 February 2004 to 24 October 2004 when the elections to the rest of the districts of the northeast province are to be held, party sources said.

In a letter to the Commissioner General of Elections, TNA parliamentary group leader and the Secretary General of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Mr.R.Sampanthan pointed out that the ground situation is not very different from the rest of the northeast.

"Holding local authorities in some parts of the Amparai district on February, would seem inappropriate for several reasons. Since nominations were received, new registers of voters have been compiled bringing about substantial changes, in the right to exercise franchise. I am informed that even the status of candidates as per the earlier nomination has undergone change. Whether credible elections can be held on the nominations filed has become highly questionable," said Mr.Sampanthan in his letter to Elections Commissioner General.

"In all the circumstances, it would seem advisable to put off the elections to local authorities to be held in February, within Amparai district, to the same date to which local authorities elections in the rest of the northeast province have been postponed."

"I respectfully urge you to make a decision accordingly," Mr.Sampanthan told the Elections Commissioner General.

The Commissioner General of Elections during the second week of January in consultation with the Amparai district Returning Officer decided to hold the local authorities elections in Amparai district on February 22. He further decided to postpone elections to local authorities in other seven districts to October in consultation with other District Returning Officers, sources said.