• Kiriella warns country would be a pool of blood if an election is not held by March next year

By Yohan Perera   

All opposition groups including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), groups led by MP Dullas Alahapperuma and Wimal Weerawansa have decided to put in a joint effort to ensure that the local government election is held in March next year.   

MPs who met to discuss the issue in Kotte yesterday have decided to call for a debate on the remarks made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on reforms to the Local Government Elections Act.   

SJB General Secretery Ranjith Madduma Bandara told Daily Mirror that the parties decided to request for a debate on the remarks made by President Wickremesinghe as an initial step. 

 “We decided to ask for a debate on the issue initially as the President has only made a statement with regard to it. We will decide what is to be done later,” he said.   

The meeting was initiated by Mr. Alahapperuma after meeting the officials of the Election Commission on Tuesday.   
Also, the SJB is making an effort to see that the local government is held and Leader of Opposition together with Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella met the prelates of Asgiriya Chapter yesterday where Mr. Kiriella said people are striving for an opportunity to express themselves. “Country would be a pool of blood if an election is not held by March next year,” he said.