President tells SLFPers to prepare for Provincial elections before Presidential poll

President Maithripala Sirisena says that some groups are attempting to postpone the Provincial Council elections that need to be held soon by creating various stories about a Presidential election.

Pointing out that by now, activities of six Provincial Councils have stalled, the President said it is not favourable for the democracy and also against the objectives of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

“Therefore, those who are talking about a Presidential election should be ready for a Provincial Council election before the Presidential election,” the President said, adding that he had already discussed the matter with the Elections Commission Chairman.

The President was speaking at the meeting with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) electoral organisers of the Uva and Central Province at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon. The meeting is part of a series of discussions the President is holding with the Provincial organisers of the party. Speaking further, the President said that it was necessary to hold elections in the Provinces and give people the right to vote.

The President also said that although three weeks have passed since appointing the new Cabinet, the Chairpersons and Board of Directors have not been appointed to the State institutions of the respective Ministries, adding that it is totally wrong to point fingers at the President’s Office for delays.

He said the respective Ministries should be held responsible for the situation, and pointed out that non-submission of the relevant recommendations by the Prime Minister’s Office to the Presidential Secretariat have caused the delay, adding that the Presidential Secretariat does not accept any responsibility for this. However, it is mandatory to make the appointments of Chairs and Boards of Directors for corporations, boards and statutory bodies through the committee appointed by him to make recommendations, the President said. SLFP Senior Vice President Nimal Siripala de Silva, SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara, Parliamentarian Dilan Perera and former Chief Minister of Uva Province Chamara Sampath Dassanayake were also present.