Sri Lanka's main opposition says postponement of local elections is to overcome embarrassment of being defeated

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) says that the government has decided to postpone elections to several local government bodies in order to overcome the embarrassment that would be caused by its defeat in those councils.


UNP Spokesperson and parliamentarian Gayantha Karunatileka told a press conference today that the government was trying to hide its bankruptcy by postponing elections to several Municipal and Urban Councils under the guise of the Cricket World Cup.

He said that if the World Cup was the real reason for the postponement of elections to several Municipal and Urban Councils, elections to these councils could be held once the matches conclude.

He added that the government is unable to respond when the question is posed to it.

Karunatileka also added that the government has decided not to give nominations to several ruling party members who had voted against the budgets presented to their respective local government bodies.