The President of a democratic nation has no authority to postpone the Local Government (LG) election and intervene in the affairs of the election Commission (EC), Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary and Parliamentarian, Attorney Sagara Kariyawasam said in response to claims that President Ranil Wickremesinghe was attempting to hold the elections next year (2024).
He added that if the Government did not have sufficient funds to hold an election, the Government should officially state so and inform the public as to when the same could be held.
Kariyawasam made these remarks in response to questions posed by the media during a media briefing held yesterday (20).
“If the President had made such a statement (to hold the election next year [2024]), then, I am saddened by that, as the decision to hold the election does not lie with the President, but with the EC. To intervene in the activities of the EC is not something that the President of a democratic country or anyone else can do, as that power has been constitutionally granted to the EC. Therefore, the sole right and responsibility to decide when the election is held is with the EC.”
During the “Imagine” 32nd Rotary District Conference on 18 February, President Wickremesinghe stated that following the country’s economic recovery, next year, it would be in a position to decide on the future it wants, with the use of the ballot.
Kariyawasam added that when Wickremesinghe was the former Prime Minister during the period of the “yahapalana” (good governance) Government, then President Maithripala Sirisena, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna-led National People’s Power Leader and MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka and Wickremesinghe were among those involved in the postponement of the LG election by two years.
“It is the ‘yahapalanaya’ Government that postponed the LG election by two years. They made laws so that the Provincial Councils election cannot be held. We opposed it then and oppose it now. If they are trying to abolish the LG bodies in some way, we will stand against it with the public. We will not agree with anyone that attempts to use their powers to do this. The election is the right of the people. Although he (Wickremesinghe) is the President now, as then-Premier, he too came forward to postpone the election. If he (Wickremesinghe) is attempting to do such a thing (to postpone the LG election), he will have to bring it to the Parliament. We shall see what happens in Parliament.”
He also added that if the Government did not have sufficient funds to hold the election, they should issue an official statement notifying this. “They should also mention when they can provide funds and a date as to when the election can be held. They (the Government) cannot just state that they will postpone the election by a year or two as that is undemocratic.”
Speaking further, Kariyawasam stated that the SLPP always stood for the holding of elections. “If there is any allegation against the Rajapaksas, it is that they held elections before the date and were against the postponement of elections. Even today, we will stand for elections. If there is any individual who is attempting to unlawfully postpone elections, it is the SLPP that will firstly stand against it. Our Party and the Rajapaksas as our Party leaders always stood for the rights of the people.”