READY FOR ELECTIONS UNDER LEGITIMATE GOVT: RANIL
UNF has no reason to oppose an election if other parties agree we request that no one should act like Hitler
The United National Front (UNF) has informed the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) that it was agreeable to holding a legal election if a legitimate government was appointed in line with the Constitution.
UNF Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said this at a media briefing last morning.
“The UNF has no reason to oppose an election if other parties agree to hold a snap poll.the parties can decide on a date for an election. This can be done through a motion approved by a two-thirds majority. We have conveyed this to the SLPP and had told them that parties should meet and decide on what is best,” he said.“the Supreme Court has always held that all decisions have to be made in line with the constitution. It has repeatedly said the Constitution has to be amended by a two-thirds majority or to amend the relavent legislation to avoid a referendum. The Constitution was amended by a referendum only in 1982.”
Mr. Wickremesinghe said the government be in keeping with the Constitution.“what we have in Sri Lanka is a Parliament-based government. Therefore we request that no one should act like Hitler. It is only me and the UNF which could command a majority in Parliament. All stakeholders must work in accordance with the Constitution,” he said. UNP Deputy Leader
The UNF has no reason to oppose an election if other parties agree to hold a snap poll. The parties can decide on a date for an election. This can be done through a motion approved by a two-thirds majority
Sajith Premadasa and MP Rajitha Senaratne said country had come to a standstill with a severe shortage of medicine while the distribution of school uniforms had come to a halt.
Dr. Senarate said the UNF would confer with its lawyers about the interim order issued by the Appeal Court. MP Rishard Bathiudeen said President Maithripala Sirisena is being advised by the very people who opposed him during the 2015 presidential election.