UNP must declare stance on PC polls: SLPP

 MP Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and MP S.M. Chandrasena at the press conference at the Nelum Mawatha SLPP Headquarters – Pic by Lasantha Kumara 

• Calls on Prime Minister to fast-track Delimitation Report or present bill in P’ment to hold polls under old system  

• Commends EC for backing PC polls, warns it could be pushed to next year  

By Nuwan Senarathna

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday called on the United National Party (UNP) to declare their stance on holding Provincial Council elections and fast track the report of the committee appointed to resolve issues on delimitation.   

The SLPP wants Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to fast track the work of the review committee that was appointed to review the Delimitation Committee Report that was presented to Parliament last year. Parliament failed to approve the report. 

“If the report of this committee is presented to Parliament, the Provincial Council polls can be held without any further delays. But that is the responsibility of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe,” MP Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told reports at the SLPP Headquarters. 

He called on the United National Party (UNP) to declare its unified stance on the Provincial Council polls rather than letting its members make various statements at different events. Abeywardena charged that the UNP was unable to agree on whether to hold polls under the previous electoral system or the new mixed electoral system. He said disagreements among UNP members had been the reason for further delays of the election.

Abeywardena said the Opposition stood by its decision to hold Provincial Council elections under the previous electoral system. According to Abeywardena, the matters pertaining to the delaying of polls could be resolved by the Legislature. He noted if a bill to hold the PC polls under the old system was passed in Parliament, PC elections could be held within a few weeks. 

“If Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is unable to present the report of the committee, all we have to do is pass a bill in the Parliament to hold the Provincial Council elections under the old system,” he added.

Abeywardena also commended Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya for standing against the delaying of Provincial Council polls. He said the SLPP expected Deshapriya to go before the Judiciary to win the election. However Deshapriya has so far not said he would appeal to courts and has instead stated that he would support anyone who did so. 

“According to the point raised by the Chairman of the Election Commission, if the Provincial Council elections are delayed until November, there is a possibility to delay it until a General election is over next year. Therefore we hope the Government will listen to the Chairman of the Election Commission and hold the election soon,” he added.

He noted if Provincial Council polls were to be delayed till November it would be pushed to next year in favour of the Presidential election that must be called at the end of 2019. Therefore considering the timeframe, the PC elections should be held prior to November, Abeywardena said.