If I win, Parliament will be convened only after general elections: Anura Kumara

Colombo, September 6 (Daily Mirror)- Claiming that the next Parliamentary session is scheduled for October 8, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today that if he wins, he will not convene Parliament on October 8 but only after a general election.

Speaking at a rally in Maradankadawala, he said the NPP will dissolve Parliament and rule the country as per the Constitution for one and half months until a general election is held.

"Parliament was convened on September 3. That is the last session of Parliament for more than 150 MPs. If I win, I will not convene Parliament on October 8 as scheduled. Parliament will be convened only after a general election. More than 150 MPs will not be re-elected this time. The NPP will form a government with a two-thirds majority," he said.

Dissanayake said the opposition camp is furious about the NPP's victory and said they were planning how to evade their defeat now.

"SJB MP Thalatha Athukorala resigned from Parliament recently after making a statement that she was resigning as President Ranil Wickremesinghe and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa are not uniting which has allowed the NPP to win. Arundika Fernando also said he is functioning as an independent MP forcing Ranil and Sajith to unite to prevent the defeat. The opposition camp is furious now. Ranil is saying that the vote which is given to Sajith is a vote given to Anura and Sajith is saying a vote given to Ranil is a vote given to Anura. We want to tell them we do not want any votes through others. We request the people to vote directly to the 'Malimawa' (compass)," he said.