Bribes paid to support LG chairmen and deputies

COLOMBO (News 1^st) – Large sums of money are changing hands over the appointments of Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen for local government bodies. Election Observers claim that at some locations money from the range of Rs. 1 Million to 100 Million has been gifted for support. On October 8^th, 2017 Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, Faizer Mustapha stated that there is no place for community leaders in the country and that if there is no funding, there is no nomination. Minister said that this was due to the prevailing political culture. He added that this culture has now been changed. Minister Mustapha stated that this system was introduced to appoint a public representative responsible for the electorate instead of the previous preferential voting system. However, the present ground situation is completely different from the stance of the Minister. For more information watch the video here: https://www.facebook.com/NewsfirstSL/videos/1890931407633775/