The National Election Commission (NEC) has announced that postal voting in 18 local government bodies, including the Colombo Municipal Council, will be delayed due to a postponement in the printing of postal ballot papers.
The delay follows an interim injunction issued by the Court of Appeal, which temporarily suspended election proceedings in these local authorities, originally scheduled for May 6. The injunction came in response to writ petitions filed by several political parties and independent groups challenging the rejection of their nominations.
NEC Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake stated that the Commission is currently studying the relevant court rulings and is in the process of informing the Government Printer regarding the next steps.
Despite the delay affecting 18 councils, postal ballot papers for 227 other local government bodies have already been printed and distributed.
Postal voting for the upcoming local government elections is scheduled to take place on April 22, 23, and 24. Voters who are unable to cast their votes on these dates will have an additional opportunity on April 28 and 29.
The interim injunction, issued by the Court of Appeal on April 7, was later lifted on April 11. This decision followed a motion filed by the Attorney General and led to a directive for the re-acceptance of the previously rejected nomination papers.
As a result, the NEC is now reviewing the implications of the court’s latest ruling before proceeding with updated postal voting arrangements for the affected local authorities.
