Main opposition accuses Sri Lankan government of misleading parliament

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) Sunday alleged that the government has misled parliament by saying the local government elections would be held before March 31.

Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe addressing a public rally in Nugegoda today said that Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister A. L. M. Athaulla had last week misled the parliament by giving a false assurance that the local government elections would be held before March 31.

Wickremasinghe said the government after saying local government elections would be held before March 31 has now announced the postponement of elections to three Municipal Councils.

The government has decided not to hold elections for Colombo, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Kolonnawa and Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Councils due to the World Cup Cricket tournament.

The UNP and the Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) last week raised objections to the holding of local government elections on a staggered basis.