Will support EC if it decides to further postpone elections: SLPP

Friday, 24 April 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Says priority is returning country to normalcy
Assures politics will be kept aside when providing relief

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday said it would not stand in the way if the Election Commission (EC) decided to further delay the General Election due to COVID-19 concerns.

The SLPP made this comment in the wake of the EC deciding to meet in two weeks to evaluate whether a fresh date for the Parliamentary Elections may be necessary.

Speaking to media in Colombo, former SLPP MP Dilan Perera said they would not interfere with the EC and emphasised the EC should not call for fresh nominations if the General Election was postponed beyond 20 June.

“The EC is empowered to make the decision about the election. As the Government, we will not interfere with the EC. It is important to control the virus outbreak and ensure the safety of the public; the election is secondary,” he said.

Perera noted the Government was only focusing on containing COVID-19 and bring the country back to normalcy and not on elections. According to the former MP, the President is vested with the authority to take necessary decisions to allocate funds from the consolidated fund to provide relief despite Parliament being dissolved and elections postponed.

“Several parties among the Opposition raised concerns about allocating funds for relief measures and expressed their willingness to support the Government to allocate funds if Parliament is reconvened. It is surprising to that these are the same people who did not support us to raise the borrowing ceiling on the Vote on Account. How do we know whether they will really help the Government now?” he charged.

Perera assured the Government had kept politics out of COVID-19 relief. According to Perera, the Government had collaborated with Local Government members representing all political parties to distribute relief measures.

“This is not a time to engage in politics. We have to work as one nation to combat this deadly virus and protect citizens. Once this is over we can do politics. Therefore I requested everyone to support the Government to eradicate COVID-19,” he said.