11 October 2022 09:16 am Views - 111
By Sandun A Jayasekera
The entire opposition yesterday expressed dismay, displeasure and opposition over the suggestion made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to postpone the much delayed local government (LG) polls and also to hold a referendum instead of a general election to take a decision on constitutional and electoral reforms.
They in one voice noted that if President Wickremesinghe resorts to this kind of what they called ‘undemocratic, unethical and indecent political maneuvers’ for his political survival, no one could prevent an unprecedented public uprising against his regime with extremely violent consequences.
General Secretary of the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Ranjith Maddumabandara told Daily Mirror that the country needs an election and not a referendum.
“Don’t attempt to hoodwink 22 million people of this country and the global community by postponing the LG polls scheduled to be held at any time right now. Besides, a referendum that will not bring the expected regime change demanded by 22 million Sri Lankans, the global community and international agencies will cost the same amount of expenditure of an election. If the government tries to postpone the LG polls hiding behind electoral reforms and to hold a referendum in place of a parliamentary election, it would be a total disaster,” Maddumabandara warned.
General Secretary of the SLFP, former Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara told Daily Mirror that only the Election Commission (EC) has the authority to hold LG polls. “Even the Executive President or the EC has no power to postpone LG polls and no one can prevent the EC from conducting LG polls. The EC is mandated to hold LG polls at any time since the 20th of September and we hope the EC will not abuse its mandate given under the law and hold the polls on time,” he said.
Mr. Jayasekara said the global community, the international financial agencies, donor countries and in particular our creditors are keeping a watchful eye on how the Ranil – Rajapaksa regime uphold democracy, human rights and provide relief to 22 million Sri Lankans who are in a political and socio-economic mess. The SLFP would launch an all-out protest against President Wickremesinghe’s undemocratic and unethical moves, Mr. Jayasekara added.
Leader of the Janatha Nidahas Sabha, former Minister and SLPP parliamentarian, Dullas Alahapperuma said no one has the authority to issue orders to the EC on its official duties as the EC is an independent establishment.
“The EC is not like any other State Owned Enterprise to be influenced by the executive or government politicians.
I checked with the EC last night whether the President consulted it before announcing the electoral reforms and the EC said ‘no’. We expect the EC will hold LG polls on time without abusing its mandate. Elections cannot be held or postponed illegally on the whim and fancy of one person,” Mr. Alahapperuma stressed.
Mr. Alahapperuma pointed out that a massive public revolt was imminent if President Wickremesinghe attempts to postpone LG polls or hold a referendum ignoring the public demand for a general election by violating all democratic principles, decency and the constitutional rights of the people.
Parliamentarian of the JVP, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said it was quite obvious that the Ranil – Rajapaksa regime fears elections and continues to postpone them.
“Under no circumstances, can we approve this. The JVP demands the government and the President to hold LG, PC and parliamentary polls on time and not to resort to undemocratic acts, that would be a big miscalculation,” Dr. Mrs. Amarasuriya emphasized.