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By Nuwan Senarathna
The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday welcomed President Maithripala Sirisena’s statement made in India that the Presidential Election had been scheduled for 7 December, insisting Sirisena’s remarks assured that Presidential polls would be held on time.
Speaking to Indian media during his short visit, President Maithripala Sirisena said the Presidential Election has been scheduled for 7 December but he was not in a hurry to make up his mind on whether to contest for a second term.
Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya had earlier said the next Presidential Election would be held on a day between 15 November and 31 December. The nominations for the election will have to be called on or before 20 October, he had said.
SLPP Chairman Prof. G. L. Peiris said President Maithripala Sirisena’s statement was positive as it assured the public that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was not attempting to extend the President’s term.
“Earlier, there was speculation the SLFP could attempt to extend the Presidential term by appearing before the Supreme Court once the new Chief Justice is appointed, but we are happy that the President appears not to be planning to extend his term,” Prof. Peiris told Daily FT.
Citing a statement made by SLFP Secretary General MP Dayasiri Jayasekara that they may seek a fresh clarification from the Supreme Court on President Sirisena’s term, the SLPP on 20 May claimed the SLFP was attempting to extend the term of the President.
The SLPP also warned that if the SLFP attempted to extend Sirisena’s term, it would scupper ongoing talks with the SLFP to form a coalition and contest future polls together. However, the SLFP has not publicly said it would look to extend Sirisena’s term recently.
United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Secretary General MP Mahinda Amaraweera said the SLFP was yet to take a decision on its presidential candidate. “We have not taken any decision on who should be our candidate for the Presidential Election, but a broader discussion will be held to decide on a suitable candidate from our camp,” he said.
However, Prof. Peiris said they would continue talks with SLFP but he did not reveal whether SLPP would nominate a common candidate.
Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had also announced he would contest as a presidential candidate but has not said whether he will contest under the SLPP or as an independent candidate as of yet. Meanwhile, SLPP has not made any public statement on naming Rajapaksa as its presidential candidate.
