Holding PC Polls an attempt to delay Presidential Election: SLPP

 MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena

• Says concerned over Election Commission’s sudden interest in Provincial Council Polls 
• Questions why EC did not focus on holding PC Polls in last 2 years
• Charges holding PC Polls before 15 Oct. could delay Presidential Polls 
• Argues country’s bigger need is not PC Polls but new president
• Believes focus on PC Polls an attempt to deceive public 

By Nuwan Senarathna

Attempts to hold the long-delayed Provincial Council Elections before 15 October could be a ploy to delay Presidential Elections, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said yesterday, faulting Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya for suggesting the timeline and describing it as an attempt to deceive the public.

Deshapriya on Monday said the PC Election could be held before 15 October if President Maithripala Sirisena issued the Gazette on the delimitation report or if the Supreme Court determined that the PC election could be held under the old electoral system. 

The Election Commission Chairman had earlier said the Presidential Elections would be held between 16 November and 7 December this year, which would leave sufficient time, in his view, to hold the PC Polls as well.  

Speaking to media at the SLPP Head Office, MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena questioned why the Elections Commission, which had been silent for two years over the delay of the PCElections,had suddenly refocused on it. Abeywardena charged that Deshapriya’s interest in PC Elections was sudden and raised concerns over whether it was an attempt to delay the Presidential Election.

“The Election Commission had two years to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court and to discuss with the President to hold PC Elections despite the delimitation report being delayed.But the Commission did nothing to hold PC Polls for the last two years. Therefore there is a genuine concern why the Election Commission suddenly wants to hold PC Elections at a time they should be focused on holding the Presidential Election,” he said.

Abeywardena added that the SLPP, which backs Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa,would not tolerate any move that would delay the Presidential Election, which the party expects to be held at the end of 2019. 

Abeywardena insisted that Sri Lanka’s greater need was anew president who would give leadership to establish a new political culture and develop Sri Lanka. The SLPP has stated that it believes a new president will also resolve the political standoff between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

The SLPP will announce its presidential candidate at its first National Convention on 11 August and plans to release his policy framework shortly afterwards. Ongoing talks between the SLPP and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to form a coalition to contest the Presidential Election will be completed on 10 August. 

“A new president is what the country needs at the moment, not PC Polls. Therefore if the Chairman of the Election Commission gives any excuse to delay the Presidential Election, we view that as an attempt to deceive the public.”

Abeywardena said the SLPP remained concerned that the SLFPwould seek a fresh clarification from the Supreme Court on when the term of President Sirisenawould end. According to Abeywardena, such an attempt would delay a chance for the people to exercise their franchise and elect a new president. 

Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya earlier said the Presidential Election would be held on a day between 16 November and 7 December and the nominations for the poll would have to be called on or before 20 October.