President says presidential election next year; other elections to follow

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday announced the conduct of the presidential election next year (2024), followed by the parliamentary elections and the provincial council elections in 2025.

“In accordance with the Constitution, the presidential election would be held next year, followed by parliamentary elections and the provincial elections in early 2025,” the President said, addressing a special convention of the United National Party at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.

Addressing the session in his capacity as the UNP leader, he called on his party members to prepare for these elections.

The President also announced drastic changes to the party constitution. Under these changes, the executive committee would have more powers than the working committee. He said that accordingly, the primary powers of the working committee would be vested with the executive committee.

“The executive committee would be appointing the leader, not the working committee,” he said.

The UNP leader said the executive committee would take major policy decisions, and the working committee would be implementing them.

“We have also reduced the number; we do not need a large working committee. If we have an executive committee comprising 300 to 400 members, that is sufficient,” he added.

The President said the party would also amend the constitution to set up digital branches, which would eventually coordinate with district branches. The president also added that the changes would be implemented after January 1.