President’s refusal to call for polls unsurprising: Sajith

Friday, 25 November 2022 00:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Ranil Wickremesinghe

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday said President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s statement claiming he will not call for a parliamentary election is unsurprising.

Speaking in Parliament Premadasa said Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed to the position as an unelected lone national list MP who was appointed as Prime Minister by the former President and then went on to become President by receiving a majority of votes in Parliament.

“Therefore, he has no trust in the country’s universal suffrage. He does not trust in the people’s right to vote,” he said.

“But even as the President claimed he will not hold an election, a group of slaves in Parliament clapped for that statement as well. What kind of people’s representatives cheer when one says elections will not be held?” he asked.

Commenting on the President’s statement on obstructing any future unauthorised protests by deploying the military, Premadasa said the SJB will not allow for it. “There is no such space for such acts in this country. Any peaceful people’s protest can be held in this country. We will strengthen and lead them. No one will be able to stop it,” he stressed.

Sajith terms President’s threats to citizenry ‘cowardly and barbaric’