Race Heats Up: Deposits Flood In for LG Elections

COLOMBO (News 1st); Three recognized political parties have deposited their security deposits for the upcoming local government elections on Thursday (6).

The Election Commission stated that 12 independent groups have also deposited their security deposits.

The acceptance of security deposits, which began on Monday, will conclude on the 19th of this month.

Nominations will start being accepted on the 17th of this month.

The United People's Freedom Alliance, contesting under the chair symbol, deposited their security deposits for 13 local government institutions in the Colombo District.

The deposits are being placed at the Colombo District Secretary's office complex.

"We have a larger number of candidates agreeing to contest under the chair symbol than we expected. Several other parties have also come forward to support us in this endeavor. Now, we have an abundance of candidates," said former minister Mahinda Amaraweera.

Lasantha Alagiyawanna, the Secretary of the United People's Freedom Alliance, said that "By next Wednesday, we will have completed the process of depositing security deposits for all 336 local government institutions across all 25 districts."

Meanwhile, the New People's Front has deposited security deposits to contest independently in several local government institutions.

"We, as the New People's Front, have come to deposit security deposits to contest independently for the Boralesgamuwa, Maharagama, Moratuwa, and Avissawella Municipal Councils," said Dinesh Abeykoon, Deputy Leader for the Colombo District of the New People's Front.

Additionally, the National Election Commission announced that the acceptance of applications from those eligible for postal voting in the local government elections will close at midnight on the 12th of this month.