Government decided to extend the terms of 234 local government bodies till 15 and 31 May this year. Ministry of Public Administration said that a gazette notification will be issued soon in this regard.

The government earlier decided to place local government bodies under a special commissioner for a period of one year, upon dissolution. However, this decision was greeted with disapproval by several political leaders including the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The terms of these local government bodies including 30 Urban Councils, 201 Pradeshiya Sabhas and three Municipal Councils will come to end on March 15.

Meanwhile the terms of 65 LG Bodies are to end in July and the terms of another 21 LG Bodies are to end in October.