Next Presidential Election in November 2006

THE next Presidential Election will be held only in November 2006 and the Elections Commissioner cannot call for a Presidential poll arbitrarily, new Government Spokesman Nimal Siripala de Silva announced yesterday. Minister de Silva described the UNP's Jana Bala Meheyuma launched to call for a Presidential Election this year as an unconstitutional demand. "The Government has no power whatsoever to meet this UNP's illegal demand," the Minister stressed. Constitutional Affairs Minister D.E.W.Gunasekera quoting 31 (3) of the Constitution said the Election Commissioner should act based on this clause. One month before the term of the President ends, the Elections Commissioner should call a Presidential Election.

The Minister explained that there is no connection between the swearing of the President and the Constitution. "According to the Constitution, her term of office will end in November 2006. Then the Election Commissioner should call a Presidential Election." Minister Gunasekera said that if UNP is unsatisfied with this constitutional interpretation, it can seek legal recourse.

Minister de Silva said UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has completely forgotten the constitution introduced by his uncle late President J.R. Jayewardene. In the first term of the President, if the President wants she has the right to call a Presidential Election four years later. During the second term of the President she has no power to call a Presidential Election, he said. According to the Constitution, the next Presidential Election should be held in November 2006. The Elections Commissioner should also call the Presidential Election subjected to the terms and conditions of the Constitution. Therefore, the Elections Commissioner has no right to violate the Constitution.

"Therefore the major slogan of the UNP's Jana Bala Meheyuma is entirely unconstitutional. "It makes undue pressure on the Elections Commissioner to take an illegal decision. Even though the UNP conducts a Jana Bala Meheyuma, the President or the Government has no constitutional power to call a Presidential Election," he said. "The UNP's Jana Bala Meheyuma is a camouflage. This is an attempt made to destabilise the Government," he charged. The Minister noted that the Opposition has the right to go on a march. This would be a good opportunity to some UNP politicians who have never walked on a road to touch the soil and identify the hopes and aspiration of the people. Mahaweli and River Basin Development Minister Maithreepala Sirisena said the UNP's Jana Bala Meheyuma uses tsunami victims as political pawns making an unconstitutional demand to hold the Presidential Election during this year.

The UNP, giving various false pledges to Tsunami victims is now making an unsuccessful attempt to gain power. Sirisena said that as a democratic Government we are fully committed to safeguard the democratic rights and act fully within the Constitution. "Therefore we condemn these UNP attempts which only shows their greediness for power." The Minister also requested all political parties to extend their cooperation towards the development activities of the Government and rebuild the country devastated by the recent tsunami catastrophe. He said as mentioned in the Constitution, elections will be held on time. The next election to be held will be the Local Government Election. The Presidential Election will be held in November 2006.

"The UNP has a bad reputation with regard to July and this is a familiar month to the UNP. People are well aware how the UNP acted in 1983 Black July. There is a doubt as to whether the UNP is getting ready to re-enact this old experience," he said. UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who cannot face the internal crisis within the UNP and also mounting pressure levelled against him is seeking this Presidential Election, the Minister said.