Local Government Minister Premila Kumar

Local Government Minister Premila Kumar reiterates that reforms will need to be undertaken before any Municipal Council elections are held.

In responding to statements by political parties and Letters to the Editor, Kumar states major reforms will be undertaken to give new direction to the Municipal Councils.

Kumar says the exact date cannot be given as a lot of things still need to be done, such as revising Legislations which are more than 40 years old.

The Minister says in August 2018, the Rural Local Authorities were transferred from the Ministry of Health to the Local Government.

These are the additional functions that would need a closer examination, as far as town boundary classification was concerned.

“Extension of town or city boundaries is an important exercise to be undertaken, before an election can be held. With the great responsibility now bestowed on the Ministry, things will need to be done in a proper and systematic manner and not be rushed for the sake of election. These reforms are pre-requisite to hold elections.”

Kumar says the flawed election system that was introduced in 1972 cannot continued to be use.
She adds the Ministry will need to put a better system of Governance of Municipalities based on global best practice to ensure that municipalities work smartly.