Jan 27, Colombo: The National Election Commission of Sri Lanka has stated that the Commission has not yet received a written resignation of a member of the Election Commission or a copy of a letter so sent, contrary to the media reports.

Issuing a media statement, the Election Commission said the news that the members of the Election Commission including the Chairman have resigned and that the resignation of one of the members of the Commission has been forwarded to the President’s Office has been circulated in the media.

The Commission dismissed the media reports saying that the Commission has observed that such false propaganda is created and disseminated from time to time with the aim of undermining the trust of the people in the Commission.

Accordingly, the Commission assured that the Chairman and the members are planning the constitutional functions of the Election Commission and tasks related to the upcoming 2023 Local Government election to be held on 09 March will be implemented as planned without any delay.

It has been reported that Mrs. P.M.S. Charles, a member of the Commission, had tendered her resignation letter to President Rani Wickremesinghe Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the former Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya says the resignation of a member of the Elections Commission would not disrupt the activities of the Commission.

In a Facebook post, he said three members were sufficient for the functions of the Commission. Quoting the provisions of the Constitution, he said the Quorum of the Elections Commission was three members.

He also said citing the Constitution, that the Commission was empowered to function despite a vacancy of a membership of the Commission.