Postal voting of the 2023 Local Government Election may get postponed, as the Government Printer has failed to deliver the ballot papers needed for the voting on time (by noon yesterday) to the Election Commission.
Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayaka issuing a statement said, “Arangements had been made to issue postal ballot paper at 1,116 centers on February 15, 2023. However, due to unavoidable circumstances beyond the control of the Election Commission, ballot papers will not be issued on February 15, 2023 as it was not possible to collect the ballot papers on time. The new date for issuing of ballot papers will be informed in due course”. Meanwhile, the Government Printer has informed the Election Commission in writing that printing work pertaining to the upcoming Local Government (LG) polls cannot go ahead without the due payments.
Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayaka speaking to ‘Daily News’ yesterday said, although the Government Printer was slated to give the ballot papers for the postal voting of 2023 Local Government Election to the Commission by yesterday noon, the Commission had not received them.
Rathnayaka said the Government Printer has already printed nearly half of the ballot papers for the postal voting. He also said it was the duty of the Government Printer to provide the ballot papers to the commission and necessary action will be taken if this does not happen.
When questioned whether the poll will be postponed, he said there were no such plans as yet.