Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said in Kurunegala that the Local Government election will be held on first Saturday after the National Independence Day 2018. 

This means that the election is likely to take place on February 10. 

The Prime Minister remark was also confirmed by Minister P. Harrison who said the Local Government election will be held on February 10. 

The election, under the current circumstances, will be a three-cornered battle with the UNP, the SLFP and the Joint Opposition contesting separately. 

The Elections Commission has already announced that the dates for filing nominations fixed for December 18–21 and dates for paying deposits  December 4–20.

Deputy Commissioner of Elections M.M. Mohamed had told media that they were hoping to hold polls to the 248 remaining local government bodies and an official announcement calling for nominations and deposits will be made today.

The Returning Officers will accept nominations from December 18 to December 21 noon, and deposits from December 4 to December 20 noon, on all working days, during working hours.