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Mahinda
plays it cool
Rules
out elections till 2010, chides opposition clamours for General
election as ploy to distract from dissension within
By
Rathindra Kuruwita, Poornima Ravishan Wijemanne and Lakna
Paranamanna
Amid statements from government ministers and challenges from
the opposition, President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday ruled
out elections until 2010.
Speaking at a ceremony held to award appointment letters to
accountants, the President stressed that his focus was to
end the war and lead the country towards economic prosperity.
Despite the prevailing political atmosphere being favourable
to the UPFA, he maintained that elections were only sought
by politicians when they need verification of their policies
by the public, which had been attained by the two recently
concluded Provincial polls.
“The
peoples’ will was shown in the recently held elections.
It is obvious that the people in the country support the government’s
policies and, if we go for an election, we can win with ease.
However, we have a mandate till 2010, and holding elections
is a waste of money, so I am in no hurry,” he said.
He added that, political leadership of opposition parties
want an election because it would give them a chance to escape
from the internal dissention prevailing after their defeat,
but there was no need to do so, because the peoples’
will is evident. “The people have shown that they are
firmly behind the government, so we do not need to prove ourselves
again,” he added.
Meanwhile, The United National Party (UNP) and the Janatha
Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) have demanded that the government
implement the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, if it plans
to hold elections in the future.
They added that, if the National Police Commission and the
Elections Commission were in place, the results of the North
Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council elections would
have been much different.
UNP General Secretary MP Tissa Attanayake said that the UNP
is ready for a General election, provided that the government
establishes the Elections Commission and the National Police
Commission as stipulated by the 17th Amendment.
“We are ready to face a General election. But we are
critical of holding Provincial elections and the government’s
ploy of focusing the full might of the government media and
misusing resources to win one small election,” he said.
He further said that, winning the Provincial Council elections
does not guarantee a victory at a General election, as the
government will not be able to rig the elections, carry out
campaigns of intimidation and make the Police be blind to
all of them, and quoted the incident where Dr. Johnpulle’s
house was burnt down.
“Yesterday, Minister Alahapperuma challenged the UNP
for a General election and then, in the evening, the President
contradictorily said that he does not wish to hold a General
election in a hurry. The result of the Provincial Council
elections cannot be taken as a parameter to predict the outcome
of a General election. In 1999, the government won the North
Western Provincial Council, but it did not prevent them losing
the General election in 2001, just like winning many Provincial
Councils in 1993, did not stop the UNP from losing the General
election in 1994. It is not up to Temple Trees or the Rupavahini
to decide the people’s preference,” he said.
Meanwhile, the JVP also claimed that they are ready for an
election, as long as it is held free and fair, unlike the
Provincial Council elections held on August 23.
“We are ready to face a General election but, before
facing the elections, we have to ensure that, it is held under
free and fair terms. That can only be assured after the implementation
of the 17th Amendment,” JVP MP Vijitha Herath said. He
asserted that, until the independent Police and Elections
Commissions are established, the assurance of a free and fair
election is not possible.
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