Army soldiers stand guard as anti-government protesters take part in a demonstration to urge the government to hold local council election as scheduled outside the Elections Secretariat in Colombo on Feb 22, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka on Friday announced to postpone local council elections, which were scheduled for March 9, amid a lack of funds to hold the elections.

The Election Commission said a new date for the elections will be announced on March 3.

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The Election Commission has informed the Supreme Court that it found it increasingly difficult to hold the local elections on March 9 owing to the lack of adequate funds.