COLOMBO (News 1st) – The National Election Commission said that the passage of the Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill will not be an obstacle to hold the Local Government Election.Commissioner General of Election Saman Sri Ratnayake speaking to News 1st said that following the passage of the bill, the necessary measures for election campaign financing need to be prepared.The Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill was passed in Parliament on Thursday (19) with amendments with a majority of 61 votes.The bill received 97 votes favour and 36 against.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and National People's Power (NPP) were among the opposition parties that voted against the bill.The SJB and the NPP criticized the bill noting that it was another attempt being made by the government to delay the Local Government Election.During the debate on the bill on Thursday (19) the government refused to accept an amendment put forward by the opposition seeking for the bill not to be applied for an election that has already been announced..