The government has decided to postpone the local government elections by one year, informed political sources said.

The sources say that the relevant Cabinet paper has already been submitted to the Cabinet by the Minister of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government Janaka Bandara Tennakoon.

The cabinet paper was presented to the cabinet last week but was not taken up at the cabinet meeting held on Monday (13).

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa and Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon are sheduled to hold a discussion on the matter.

The term of office of the members elected to the Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas in the Local Government Elections held in February 2017 is due to end in February next year.