The National Election Commission states that postal voting in 18 local government bodies, including the Colombo Municipal Council, will be delayed.

This delay is due to the postponement of printing of postal ballot papers, following an interim injunction that prevented the local government elections scheduled for May 6th, in these local government bodies.

Chairman of the National Election Commission R.M.A.L. Rathnayake stated that they are currently studying the court rulings and taking steps to inform the Government Printer.

However, postal ballot papers for 227 local government bodies have already been distributed.

Postal voting for the upcoming local government elections is scheduled for the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of this month.

Voters who are unable to cast their votes on those dates can do so on April 28th and 29th.

The Court of Appeal issued an interim injunction on the 7th of April, suspending the election proceedings in 18 local government bodies, including the Colombo Municipal Council.

This was in response to writ petitions filed by several political parties and independent groups against the rejection of their nominations.

However, on the 11th of this month, the Court of Appeal ordered the removal of this interim injunction.

This order was issued after ordering the re-acceptance of the rejected nomination papers submitted for those local government bodies.

The Court of Appeal issued this order after considering a motion filed by the Attorney General.