COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament on Thursday (23) that the country's National Election Commission has not legally called for an election, and there are no funds to conduct an election.Commenting on the debate requested by the opposition on postponing the election, the President said there is no election for one to be postponed."The Election Commission had gone to court and said that it cannot conduct an election.
However, an affidavit was provided. It states that the Commission has been informed by the Secretary of the Treasury that he is unable to provide the necessary funds to conduct the election.
That is false. On the 14th of December I informed the members of the Election Commission of the country's economic situation, the fact that we do not have the necessary funds to conduct the election, and the fact that it would have a negative impact on the economy, and to conduct the election after the number of members is cut down to 5,000.
I felt it was my duty to inform them because it is a caretaker commission, and not a normal commission. It is a temporary commission," elaborated the President."On the 5th of January, I along with the Prime Minister and the Attorney General met with them (Election Commission).