Polls fever: President cancels independence reception

President Maithripala Sirisena has canceled the customary reception that follows the 70th Independence Day ceremonies.
Colombo-based diplomats, United Nations agency heads and other invitees were advised on Friday that it was being put off “due to unavoidable circumstances.”

However, Government sources said it was due to the ongoing local polls campaign. It was reaching its peak with just five more days to go for the poll on February 10. Officials were aware of the polls when invitations were sent out. However, instructions are learnt to have come from President Sirisena.

At least 600 guests were expected at the event which is held annually after the independence day. “It’s not a formal sit down dinner but a buffet to which mainly senior public officials and diplomats are invited to,” an official of the Secretariat said.Some of the diplomatic missions were told to collect their invitations from the President’s Secretariat only to be told later that the event had to be cancelled.

Meanwhile, some consuls who have been invited for today’s function said they have not been told of the postponement. They said they were also puzzled over the wordings of the invitation for today’s dinner at President’s House. The card says, “On the direction of the His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of…., Austin Fernando, Secretary to the President requests the honor of the company of …….”

The invitees wonder whether the host will be Mr. Fernando instead of the President, who is tirelessly working for his party’s victory at Saturday’s election.

Read More Cafe Spectator