National People’s Power (NPP) Member of Parliament K. Ilankumaran claimed that Provincial Council elections will be held “without delay” but refused to give a timeline or potential date for the polls. Speaking to the media in Jaffna on Friday, Ilankumaran stated that the elections would be conducted at the “earliest possible opportunity”. He acknowledged that the legislation required to facilitate the Provincial Council elections has yet to be enacted, but said steps are already underway to draft and pass the necessary bill in order to move forward with the process. He stated that the Provincial Council legislation would only be enacted after consulting the public and taking the views of the people into account. Provincial Council elections have been repeatedly delayed for years, particularly affecting the Tamil homeland, where the absence of elected provincial governance has entrenched centralised control.