SJB says Prez can postpone elections only with approval of people by referendum

• Says a General Election should be  held first to find out the opinion of the people

By Yohan Perera   

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said yesterday President  Ranil Wickremesinghe could postpone elections only with the approval of the people by a referendum otherwise, it would be unlawful.    

SJB MP Tissa Attanayake told a news conference that the  President requested them to join the Government, but they insisted on having a  General Elections first.   

“We have told President that a General Election should be  held first to find out the opinion of the people. We have told him that  we will consider supporting him depending on the fresh mandate of the  people,” Mr Attanayake said.   
“The President asked us to come and work with him  collectively, but the main issue is that he is aligning with the wrong  people. He is with the SLPP, which is responsible for the economic  crisis. This is the main reason which prevents us from working with the  President,” he said.   

“At the same time, we do not welcome the recent comments  made by the President at the Law conference. He had said people are  tired of elections and no party will secure 50 per cent of the votes in  future elections. We feel that the President is trying to imply that the election map of the country will be closed temporarily, and no elections  will be held in the near future. The right thing which the President  could do is to hold a referendum and seek people’s consent to postpone  elections temporarily. However, we request the President hold any  election, be it Presidential, general, provincial council or even the  local government election without further postponement,” he said.