DHAKA: Sri Lanka on Sunday called snap local elections seen as a gauge of president Mahinda Rajapakse’s popularity ahead of national polls expected to be held later this year.

Sri Lanka officials said, reports The Straits Times.

The southern and western provincial councils, the highest level of local government, have been dissolved, clearing the way for local elections almost a year before they were due, officials said.

‘The election dates will be announced by the elections commissioner, but they are likely to be towards the end of March,’ an official of Rajapakse’s office said, asking not to be named.

‘This will be a crucial test for the president,’ the official added.

BDST: 1824 HRS, JAN 12, 2014
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor