Give people their right to vote: SJB tells Govt. 

• SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara says Govt. must hold election to seek opinion of the people
• Accuses Govt. of using various tactics to delay polls
• Calls on Election Commission to take necessary steps to hold a vote

General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara

SJB MP Niroshan Perera

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara has called on the Government to give the Sri Lankan people their right to vote.

“The delaying of elections will not reduce the cost of living and neither will the country come out of its bankrupt state, Therefore we ask the Government to hold an election to seek the opinion of the people,” the MP said.

Pointing out that the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (EC) has now become empowered to independently carry this task out, Madduma Bandara said the EC need not seek permission from the President or the District Secretaries to hold elections. “Constitutionally they can hold the elections. That is why 16 parties met with the EC to ensure our democratic rights but nevertheless, the polls are being continuously delayed,” he said.

Madduma Bandara made these comments at a press conference held in Colombo yesterday.

“The President called for an all-party conference recently to discuss the 13th Amendment to Sri Lanka›s Constitution to resolve the ethnic problem and provide other solutions to it. The only solution to the ethnic crisis was provided by 13A. Its main feature is the setting up of provincial councils. It is through this a division of power is achieved by the North, East and South. Therefore, we must question the Government why it is choosing to not hold provincial council elections,” he said.

“Many years have elapsed since such an election was held. They are attempting to do the same to the Pradeshiya Sabhas. Delimitation Committees are set up when elections are pending. The Government is using various tactics to delay polls. Give the people their right to franchise. We ask the EC to take necessary steps to hold elections,” the MP added.

Also expressing his views at the press conference, SJB MP Niroshan Perera said the Government is attempting to embark on an unsuccessful journey by blocking the people’s right to an election while also preventing them from engaging in any form of struggle. “The people are expecting an election and they wish to express their views through it to charter the future path of the country,” he said.

According to Perera, the people will not accept the Government’s attempts to burden them further when it fails to earn revenue.

“Failure to resolve the economic crisis will only exacerbate the problems faced by the country. The economy and businesses are collapsing. Professionals are leaving the country. The Government cannot earn any revenue as a result of this and the economy will only collapse further,” he noted.