Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday urged the newly appointed members of the National Election Commission (NEC) to explore the possibility of holding the Provincial Council elections at the earliest and look into the legal action required for that.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa made these remarks when he met the NEC members at his official residence in Wijerama, Colombo this morning, the Prime Minister’s Media Division said.

The Prime Minister asked the members of the Election Commission to look into the possibility of holding the PC elections at the earliest either under the old or new system. NEC members said legal provisions should be made at the ministerial level to change the manner in which elections are held.

Therefore, they pointed out that it would be easier to hold the Provincial Council elections this time under the old system and in the future after introducing the necessary legislation to hold the elections under the new system.

They said that amendments were needed to the existing election laws and pointed out the need for a Parliamentary Select Committee for this purpose.

The Prime Minister replied that he had already made a request to the Speaker in this regard.

NEC Chairman Senior Counsel Nimal G.S. Punchihewa, members of the commission and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Chaminda Kularatne were also present.