CWC seeks early voting rights for new citizens
The Government has agreed to consider granting voting rights for all formerly stateless persons who were granted citizenship recently ahead of the provincial council elections early next year.

The assurance to consider the request was given by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at a meeting with Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) parliamentarian S. Yogaraja.

The prime Minister, The Sunday Times learns, advised the CWC to consult the Attorney General in this regard. The new citizens will be registered as voters only in June and this means they will be able to vote only in 2005, unless elections laws are amended.

"We want to present an amendment to a 1989 Act after the budget," Mr. Yogaraja said. Around 165,00 formerly stateless persons were granted citizenship recently with parliament unanimously passing necessary legislation.

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