evidence: While local government elections were due soon after — they would have given citizens a say after the country’s economy crashed — the Wickremesinghe administration maintained it could not afford to spend on an election amid urgent efforts towards economic revival. The elections to Sri Lanka’s local authorities, scheduled to be held in March 2023 and later April 2023, were postponed. The Election Commission said reasons for the move were "beyond" its control and Mr. Wickremesinghe, who is also Finance Minister, came under sharp attack for "blocking funds" needed for the election.