New polls body to meet on December 17

COLOMBO (News1st): Sri Lanka's newly-appointed national election commission will meet for the first time on December 17, polls chief Nimal Punchihewa said. Punchihewa, a lawyer by profession, noted that special attention will be paid to the current election system and the amendment of election laws. Other members of the commission who began their duties on December 10 include M.M. Mohamed, S.B. Divaratne, K.P.P. Pathirana and Jeevan Thyagaraja. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the polls body to swiftly examine the possibility of conducting the provincial council polls.