The President has persistently championed democracy and universal franchise : Kiriella

• No doubts whatsoever that the EC would receive its money on time

By Sandun A Jayasekera

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has a statutory and moral obligation to ensure that the Elections Commission (EC) does not experience any financial constraint to conduct the Local Government (LG) polls as the EC has been allocated with Rs. 10 billion from the budget 2023, the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) claimed yesterday.   

The senior vice president of the SJB and the Chief Whip of the opposition, Lakshman Kiriella said President Wickremesinghe has persistently championed the cause of democracy and universal franchise. He has promoted himself as a great democrat in and out of the country and has stood to protect the right to vote. After all, he is the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies. Therefore, we have no hesitation whatsoever that the EC would receive its money on time and there will be no any financial hardships to hold the LG polls.   
“Besides, Chairman and the Commissioner General of the EC have categorically said that they would make sure to keep the cost of the LG polls under Rs. 8 billion. They have already taken several steps in this regard such as holding the election on a week day, restricting the number of election officials to less than 200,000 to minimize extra payments and allowances etc. The Rs.8billion is a pittance when compared to the total government expenditure of Rs.7,879 billion estimated for this year. Furthermore, the government has allocated Rs.74 billion for the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government and Rs. 360 billion for the Ministry of Defense. Therefore, only an insane person or someone panic-stricken about the prospect of election results can say that election expenditure is a burden to the economy,”Kiriella emphasized.   
Kiriella appreciated and expressed gratitude for the action taken by the EC to conduct LG polls amid many a compulsion and also for its attempt to restrict election expenses to Rs. 8 billion as declared by Chairman, Nimal Punchihewa and Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake.   

“There was a heavy lobbying by politicians and political parties who have been rejected, detested and hated by the masses not to hold LG polls. They have realized well their fate at the upcoming polls. I wonder how these politicians could go to the electorate to meet voters, leave alone drawing votes or winning the election.