on Presidential, Parliamentary Elections?

• Presidential Election due by September or October
•  Parliamentary election can be called for by President at any time 
• SLPP not yet decided to support RW or field its own candidate
• Key political parties and individuals are already expending their energy 
• SLPP expected to announce its vision and mission on December 15

By Kelum Bandara  
Putting to rest speculation about uncertainty on the  conduct of polls pending next year, President Ranil Wickremesinghe  announced in Parliament on Wednesday that he would take steps for the  conduct of both the Presidential and General Elections next year. He  made such an announcement against the backdrop of the political parties  and politically savvy people raising concerns about the possible  postponement of elections through legal and constitutional  manipulations.  
However, Article 31 (3) of the Constitution says (3) ‘The  poll for the election of the President shall be taken not less than one  month and not more than two months before the expiration of the term of  office of the President in office.’  
The Presidential Election is due by September or October in  terms of the Constitution and therefore there is no requirement for  making a fresh announcement. However, the President would have done it  because many individuals were casting doubts about the timely conduct of  it. In fact, he announced it previously in his address to the  convention of his United National Party (UNP).  

However, the question still lingers as to whether the  President will attempt to postpone the Presidential Election next year  through constitutional or legal manipulations.  
Nevertheless, the parliamentary election can be called for  by him at any time now though it is constitutionally scheduled to be  held only in 2025, well after the Presidential Election.   
No matter what, the key political parties and individuals  harbouring presidential hopes have been expending their energy for some  time in anticipation of the elections next year. In addition to the  names of President Wickremesinghe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader  Sajith Premadasa, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and individuals  such as Dhammika Perera have already been floated as prospective  candidates.  

According to informed sources, the parties have done their  own surveys to ascertain public opinion. As things stand at the  moment, no party commands the clear-cut majority or 50 per cent mark of  votes polled to win the elections. They will do a lot of strategizing  in the months to come to fill the gaps needed to cross the mark at the  election.  
Things are slated to hot up starting from January, next  year. In the meantime, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is working on  its convention scheduled for December 15. It will announce its vision  and mission, probably with an indication about its plan for the Presidential Election. Besides, an SLPP group that is fully with the  President will launch its political movement in January, next year,  targeting the presidential elections.  
The SLPP, as a party, has not yet decided to support  President Wickremesinghe. It is highly unlikely that it will field its  own candidate this time. Its electoral alliance with any prospective  candidate will depend on the political outcome to be unfolded in the  months to come.