No room for a presidential poll this year or next under existing law: G.L.

Tuesday, 18 April 2023 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Freedom People’s Congress member

Prof. G.L. Peiris

Declares Presidential election can only be held if a proposal receives two-thirds majority approval in Parliament
Claims successor President cannot call for Presidential election at the lapse of four years
Says Govt. is unstable as it has not won the trust of people

Freedom People’s Congress member Prof. G.L. Peiris says the Government will have to hold the local Government polls prior to conducting a presidential election. Addressing a press conference at the party Head Office yesterday, Peiris said under the existing legal provisions, the opportunity for a presidential election will only occur between 18 September - 18 October 2024. “There is no room for a presidential election to be held this year or early next year under the current law,” he said. The MP said a successor president cannot call a presidential election after four years and will need a two-thirds majority in Parliament to do so. “One cannot change the constitution for narrow political gains. One must seek the public approval to make such changes,” he said.

Peiris said the current ‘dictatorial’ Government facing intense displeasure from the people is attempting to suppress democracy. Peiris said the Government is unstable and is far removed from the people of the country. “For a country to be stable there must be a close relationship between the Government and the people. The Government must win the trust of the people. The current Government has failed in this task,” he said. According to the MP, the current Government is in fear of the people. “Any such Government is an unstable Government,” he said.

“Why do I say they are afraid of the people? They have not held polls for over four years because they are scared, and they are aware of what the people’s response will be. Today no one knows when the election will be held,” he noted. The MP also claimed that the current Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL) today only exists by name. “It serves no purpose as it is unable to declare a date for polls and conduct it on the date as scheduled,” he said.

He also accused the Government of using the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act to suppress the media. “It will quash media freedom,” he said. Commenting on the Government’s agreement with the IMF, Peiris said there has been no transparency in the discussions and proposals. Noting that the IMF agreement is to be tabled in Parliament, Peiris said it has not been translated into Sinhalese and Tamil yet either. Peiris said no MP from the Freedom People’s Congress will support the IMF agreement in Parliament.