Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to hold the presidential election first, the Government Information Department announced on Monday, quoting Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.
The President has declared this decision at a special meeting attended by leaders of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) leaders yesterday at the Temple Trees - the official residence of the president.
The Government Information Department also revealed that all the constituent parties of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance have pledged their fullest support to the President in the upcoming presidential election.
According to the sources from the President’s house, the President has signed the proclamation to go for a fresh presidential election sparing two more years. The gazette notification in this regard is to be issued soon.
President Rajapksa has completed four year in office on 19 November 2009, in his first term of office as President.
According to the country’s constitution, the president is eligible to call for fresh presidential election after the completion of four years of his first term.
This decision will end months of speculation whether the president would opt for the parliamentary or presidential elections.
Rajapakse's tenure will end in 2011 but the government wants to hold an early presidential election to capitalize on its victory against Tamil Tiger rebels in May.
Sri Lanka should also go for the parliamentary elections as its six year term ends in April 2010.
- Asian Tribune -
Comments
Sri Lanka has long awaited
Sri Lanka has long awaited for a leadership to emerge that would set fire to the vast resources of latent energy hidden within the people of Sri Lanka. Now it has emerged and don't let it be hijacked and exploited to the advantage of elitist/racist/naive/marxist/egoist players in the race. Sri Lanka belogns to its common people, not to the misguided morons.
We should only understand one thing it is so simple. Elect the leader who gave ear to the people's voice and understood the real challenges faced by SL of today.
Sri Lanka has been once lucky to get its own way( courtesy of Prabhakaran's last mistake). This time please unite and leave no room for rogues to get into power.
Election matters... In fact
Election matters...
In fact there is sharp difference between Mahinda and predicessors. Whilst Chandrika was elite centric, Ranil was West centric. However, Mahinda is people centric. That is the difference. The biggest change that Mahinda introduce to this country is "change of mind". The change in thinking pattern to infuse "country first" ideology. If anyone thinks that we, majority citizens have fogotten recent past and vote only for short term actions issues such as jobs, foods, drinks and free hand outs, they are sadly mistaken. Majority srilankans are now proud to identify themselves as srilankans. The change of patriotic mind is permanant.
Therefore, this forthcoming presidential election is very improtant for us to decide to whom we hand over this country to lead future for our children. If politician thinks that they can fool ordinary farmer, worker or citizen it is a myth. We know exactly what happened last 30 years, who did what. In similar manner we know to who to hand over this country for next 30 years as well. We, do not believe in false promises. We go by proven actions, what has been already delivered, what is tangible, who has right leadership qualitites and more importantly who has right attitude. Let be open and frank about it, there is none to come closer to President Rajapakse in this respect.
So what?
Whether it be the Presidential or Parliamentary there is hardly any difference. UNP ruled for 17-years from 1977 and people wanted a change. Now the PA and UPFA have done it for 15-years people may be wanting a change. For those who do not want a change to be in the opposition, it really matters because it is all about remaining in power. If the country is free everyone has the freedom to do under the freedoms guaranteed by the constitution.
The turning point of abusing the freedom started with the Supreme Court upholding the argument of the late Mr. HL De Silva PC in the FR case instituted by Mr. Chandrakumar Wijegunawardena and Mr. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena against their expulsion from UNP, that "no party constitution can override the freedom guranteed by the constitution." Those who switched alliances in the house since then enjoyed the protection from this precedent interpretation. Sadly the people have not realized that they are being taken for a ride by those very politicians they trusted to be their representatives.
Now there is no difference between the government and opposition because both are the same with cross overs of convenience and no party has been able to change their constitutions since the precedented interpretation on freedom.