US asks Lanka to hold LG polls without further delay

Govt. action “undeniably undemocratic” and “a direct violation of Sri Lankans’ rights”

Amidst ongoing Opposition protests, demanding early Local Government polls, the U.S. Senate Committee, on Foreign Relations, has urged the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government to hold a “free and fair” local authorities election, without further delay.

In a tweet, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Bob Menendez, denounced any effort to take away the voice of the people of Sri Lanka as “undeniably undemocratic” and “a direct violation of Sri Lankans’ rights”.

The JVP-led Jathika Jana Balavegaya (JJB), last Sunday, held a protest rally in Colombo demanding Local Government polls.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is a panel that oversees executive agreements with foreign countries and provides advice and consent on diplomatic nominations and treaties.

On February 24, the Election Commission of Sri Lanka announced that the 2023 Local Government polls would not be held on March 09, as initially scheduled, due to matters beyond its control. Thereby, new dates for the polls are expected to be announced this coming Friday (March 03)