Former Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya has submitted an application to the National Election Commission.
Speaking to the media, Mahinda Deshapriya stated that he has applied to the National Election Commission as well as the National Delimitation Committee on Demarcation of Wards for Local Authorities.
Deshapriya has applied for the two Commissions after applications were called for by the government to elect new members to various independent commissions, including the National Election Commission.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has announced that the acceptance of applications to elect new members to the independent commissions has concluded, and the appointment process will commence soon.
Meanwhile, the Speaker has also made a request from President Ranil Wickremesinghe and subject minister, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to extend the term of the National Delimitation Committee on Demarcation of Wards for Local Authorities by one month.
Mahinda Deshapriya, who is part of the National Delimitation Committee on Demarcation of Wards for Local Authorities, stated that a request has been made to extend the term of the Committee until 31st march 2023.
He further stated that an interim report was submitted by the Committee yesterday in which it was pointed out that the number of members elected to the local government bodies per division is less than 3000 and those being elected via the national list are below 2000.
Deshapriya pointed out that it has been estimated that the total number of members to be elected to Local Government bodies will amount to nearly 4850.
He added that the final report of the National Delimitation Committee on Demarcation of Wards for Local Authorities is expected to be handed over on 31st March 2023. (NewsWire)