The Government has set the stage for elections for three Provincial Councils (PC) later this year, as the Opposition and election monitoring groups voiced concern about early staggered elections.
Economic Affairs Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told the Sunday Times that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) reorganisation programme held last week, was aimed at preparing for PC elections in the North Central Province (NCP).
“We will be holding similar programmes in the Eastern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces shortly,” he said.
The Sunday Times learns that plans are under way to dissolve the NCP, Eastern and Sabaragamuwa PCs in July and hold elections in September. The terms of the three PCs are scheduled to end next year, Mr. Abeywardena said that they were holding elections earlier than scheduled, to disprove claims that the Government has lost its popularity and cannot face elections.
“We are calling on the Opposition to face elections and prove the claims they are making,” he said.
He said that early elections would also help strengthen the President Mahinda Rajapaksa government to counter international pressure, and will also show the solidarity of the people with the Government.
“Holding elections about one year ahead of schedule is not something new. We have done it in the past as well. We are giving the right to the people to vote before the due date’, he said.
“It is up to the Opposition to be prepared for elections,” he added.
But, the main Opposition parties – the UNP and the JVP, in counter claims, said that it was not the right time to go for elections, though they were ready to face them.
UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told the Sunday Times that they were challenging the Government to hold PC elections simultaneously, without misusing its powers to hold elections on a staggered basis.
“It is the elections in the North which are long overdue. Why is the Government not having elections in the North? Because it is worried it would lose it,” he said.
He said the Government was trying to concentrate all its resources and win a couple of provincial elections.
By concentrating on a couple of provinces, Government’s misuse of State resources is made much easier, unlike having all PC elections simultaneously,” Mr. Attanayake said.
He said that, in the wake of international pressure on the Government, on its failure to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LRRC), the Government was trying to show the international community that it had the support of the public.
“The public is not in a position to face elections due to the burden of the cost of living. It would be a waste of money, as the terms of the PCs have not lapsed,” he added.
JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva told the Sunday Times that the Government, in an undemocratic manner, is trying to hold PC elections in select areas, to achieve its narrow objectives. “We totally condemn this action,” he added.
“The Government has indefinitely delayed the holding of the Northern elections. Instead of that, it is trying to hold elections in areas which are thought to be favourable to the Government,” he said.
He said that the Government was trying to plunder the ballot at a time when the problems of the people, including issues of cost of living cannot be resolved.
“The Government does not have money for the welfare of the people, but it go on to waste public money. The people have not given the Government the right to waste money,” he said. “The Government, despite all its efforts, failed to defeat the resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN in Geneva. How does the mandate of the people help to defeat the so- called conspiracy,” he said. “We are calling on the people not to fall prey to the undemocratic practices of the Government,” Mr. Silva said.
“We are ready to face elections, but our challenge to the Government is to hold them to all eight PCs at the same time, to test its popularity,” he said.
Director- People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi told the Sunday Times that, last time the PC elections were held in four stages, and even this time it seems to be the case.
“Some of the PCs’ terms end next year, while some others can continue until the following year. Therefore, all elections could be held together next year, if necessary. It is a massive waste of money to have elections earlier than scheduled,” he said.
“It may be good to hold elections in time and test public opinion, but there is no necessity to have staggered elections,” Mr Hettiarachchi said.
He said holding staggered elections distort public opinion, as the Government could go on to win one council, and thereafter, use the results to create public opinion in its favour for the others.
Meanwhile, JVP NCP PC member Aruna Dissanayake said that during last weekend’s SLFP reorganisation programme, grama sevakas had to take part in house-to-house campaigns.
He said that the Chief Minister’s (CM) office had provided Rs. 9,000 each to schools to have felicitation ceremonies for CM Berty Premalal Dissanayake.Meanwhile, JVP PC member for the Sabaragamuwa Province, Pushpakumara Dissanayake told the Sunday Times that last month, the Government had taken UPFA members from the Sabragamuwa Province to Anuradhapura, and got them to tell the public that their areas were developed and called on Anuradhapura residents to call for elections, and get the Government to implement similar development programmes.
He said that, in a similar fashion, people from Anuradhapura were coming to Sabaragamuwa and telling similar things.
Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said that, to date, he had not received any intimation about holding PC elections.
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