President says he respects people’s voting rights and right to live

• Opines if time was spent on conducting LG Polls, country’s economy might not recover
• Assures General Elections to follow Presidential Election, with Provincial Council and Local Government Elections scheduled afterwards 
• Asks activists why not pursue legal action to restore economic stability?

President Ranil Wickremesinghe

President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday acknowledged that postponing the Local Government elections is a violation of citizens’ basic rights but he does not regret this decision, as the time was dedicated to ensuring the people’s right to live and maintaining their safety. He emphasised his respect for both the right to vote and the right to live.

The President also noted that every hour was crucial in the effort to stabilise the country’s economy. He explained that had he devoted that time to conducting the Local Government elections, achieving economic stability would not have been possible.

The President made these remarks while addressing the National Conference of the New People’s Front (NPF) at the Youth Service Council Auditorium, Maharagama.

President Wickremesinghe highlighted that people cannot maintain their day to day lives without essentials such as gas, medicine, food, and fuel. The President affirmed that over the past two years, he has been dedicated to safeguarding the basic rights of the people and stated that he will continue to make necessary decisions to protect these rights in the future.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe further stated that the decision has been made to hold the General Election after the Presidential Election. The necessary funds for this have already been secured. Following the General Election, Provincial Council Elections will be held, followed by Local Government elections.

“Instead of pursuing legal action, why didn’t the Opposition take their case to the Supreme Court in 2022 to address the economic issues and work towards a return to normalcy? I have no regrets about postponing the election. In this country, Presidential and General Elections are fundamental rights of the people, and I respect that right to vote. Equally important is the right to basic necessities such as gas, medicine, and fuel. I prioritised these essential needs and will continue to do so if required,” the President said.

“The Supreme Court has advised that the Election Commission should determine the timing of the elections. We have collectively decided to hold the General Election after the Presidential Election, and the necessary funds for this have been secured. The Provincial Council elections are planned to follow. We acknowledge the importance of these elections and are currently securing the funds needed. Local Government and Municipal Council elections will be scheduled subsequently, with new laws to be introduced, including measures for youth representation. I am pleased with the progress we’ve made in stabilising the economy within just two years. Ultimately, it is up to the people to judge whether our decisions are correct,” the President added.