SLPP wants EC to expedite Presidential Election

• Calls on EC to announce presidential polls soon to bolster public confidence in democracy 
• Accuses Govt. of using tax payer funds to campaign and entice votes

By Nuwan Senarathna 

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday called on the Elections Commission (EC) to announce the Presidential Election as soon as possible arguing that it was the best step to protect the democratic rights of citizens. 

EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya earlier stated the Commission will be vested with the power to hold the Presidential Election from 15 September but has not yet declared any dates. 

Speaking to media at the SLPP head office, Spokesman MP Keheliya Rambukwella said the EC should not delay the announcement of Presidential Election as the EC is already vested with the power to move forward with the Presidential Election. 

“There is a doubt in the minds of the people that the election may not be held on time. The EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya and the Commission now have the constitutional right to make the announcement. We believe the earlier the announcement, the better for democracy,” Rambukwella said.

According to Rambukwella once the EC announces the Presidential Election, doubts the public may hold will be cleared. He pointed out that the EC has a responsibility to protect the democratic rights of the citizens and that can only be done by announcing the election.

“This Government has been postponing elections for a long time. Considering that, it is very reasonable for people to think that elections will be postponed. However, to avoid that the EC Chairman can make the first move to show that democracy will be protected and elections will be held on time.”

He charged the Government was engaged in vote buying through various programs including recruitments to the public sector. 

“The Government has been unethically recruiting people even though there are no vacancies for certain State institutions. The Government is trying to hoodwink people. The Government is spending public funds for their political gains, which is unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, MP Dullas Alahapperuma charged the Government had allocated public funds to promote the Enterprise Sri Lanka loan scheme and this was unethical with a national election around the corner. He noted these funds could have been used for a more useful project to address the economic challenges of the country.

“The Government is spending public money on promotion campaigns. The country is already in a difficult situation. The Government should have used that money for more meaningful projects,” he added.

Alahapperuma argued that if the EC announces the Presidential Election the Government would not be able to use public funds for promotional campaigns and de-facto vote buying. “Every moment the EC takes to announce the election the Government uses public funds to gain political advantages. If EC announces the election there will be no room for such unethical practices,” he said.