The Web Sri Lanka In Focus

Friday, 25 January 2008

Sri Lanka to hold local elections in March in restive east

Sri Lanka today announced plans to hold local council polls on March 10 in the country's restive eastern region for the first time in 14 years.

According to the Election Department, polls for the municipal and urban councils will be held on the same day.

Six political parties and 22 independent groups will participate in the elections, media reports said.

The last local council elections were held in the region in 1994. The government has not been able to hold elections in the region due to escalating violence between LTTE and security forces.

Source: outlookindia.com