State Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils Janaka Wakkumbura said that the Government is taking steps to consult the Attorney General for further clarifications on the proposal to cancel the nomination papers of the proposed Local polls submitted by candidates of various political parties.
Ministry officials are discussing the issue and several cases are now being heard at the courts.
The State Minister said the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Local Government will be briefed on the matter after receiving advice from the Attorney General.
Several Government and Opposition parliamentarians and top Government officials have called upon the Local Government Ministry to explore the possibility of cancelling the nomination papers of candidates for the proposed local polls, State Minister Wakkumbura said. He said that nearly 10,355 people who work on a temporary, contract and casual basis at 330 local bodies will soon receive permanent status. President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena have agreed to confirm them in the permanent cadre.
He said there are 18 Municipal Councils, 42 Urban Councils and 270 Pradeshiya Sabhas in the country.