Despite the Election Commission of Sri Lanka(EC) announcing it would call for nominations before 5 January 2023, leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) party Anura Kumara Dissanayake has expressed his doubts on the assurance and said the Government is still continuing its attempts to delay the vote. Dissanayake accused the EC of delaying the process to allow for various tactics by President Ranil Wickremesinghe before being forced to announce it would issue the gazette calling for nominations during the first week of January.

Dissanayake made these comments during a party electoral organising meeting held in Katugampola, Kurunegala on Wednesday.

“Parliament has been urgently convened on January 5 when it was supposed to convene on 17 January. Perhaps they will try some tactics in parliament on the day,” Dissanayake opined.

“But they have exhausted every legal way to delay polls. Now they are claiming they do not have the funds. However the EC Commissioner has confirmed the funds have been allocated,” he said.

While noting it is likely that the Local Government elections will be held as scheduled, Dissanayake said if not the NPP will intervene to force the Government into holding the polls.