PC polls likely to be held in early 2019

Three UPFA stalwarts yesterday vowed that there will be no dissolution of Parliament, early Presidential or General election or a referendum to come over the current political and constitutional crisis and added however that the new government would do its utmost to hold the Provincial Council polls as early as possible. Highways and Road Development Minister S.B. Dissanayaka, Parliamentarians Dilan Perera and Thilanga Sumathipala told the media at the ‘Centre for Media Freedom’ that the Mahinda Rajapaksa government was determined to hold PC polls soon after attending to the issues related to delimitation and electoral system.

“I expect we would be in a position to hold PC polls in early 2019 after resolving the contentious issues related to delimitation and the electoral system,” Mr. Perera said. Commenting on the UNPS demand to convene Parliament immediately to check who has the confidence of the majority of members in Parliament Mr. Perera said the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has no right to override President Sirisena’s orders and Parliament would convene on the day decided by the President. “Why does the UNP not seek the opinion of the supreme Court if the President has violated the Constitution. Speaker Jayasuriya must end this ‘nadagama’ in Parliament and permit Parliamentary business without violating the Standing Orders. He has no right whatsoever to bypass the gazette notification issued by President Sirisena. Therefore, Parliamentary business on the 14th would be restricted only to the policy statement of President Sirisena.