DailyMirror
Top officials to talk with president
The appointment of an Elections Commission based on the Indian Model where the Commissioner has wide powers will be discussed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa with top officials of the election secretariat, sources said yesterday.
They said the government had decided to form an Elections Commission comprising seven members and recently, election officials met at the elections secretariat to discuss how this could be worked out.
An official who attended this meeting said there were certain aspects on the setting up of this Commission that needed to be clarified.
“We hope to meet the president and clarify these matters,” he said. According to the proposal, the Commission will work in the election secretariat itself.
Meanwhile, the registration of new political parties had been delayed till Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake returns to the country next month. Mr. Dissanayake left the country soon after the April 8 general election. Mr. Dissanayake had been widely criticised by opposition leaders for the manner in which he conducted the January 26 presidential election and the general elections.
Applications for the registration of new political parties were accepted till end June. Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader retired General Sarath Fonseka also applied for the registration of a political party.