Next poll: President consults UPFA leaders

Statement: Campaign for Free & Fair Elections

(October 19, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) President Mahinda Rajapaksa has sought the views of leaders of the UPFA coalition to gauge whether he should go for a presidential election or general election first, political sources said yesterday.

They said most of the leaders were of the view the President should go in for a presidential election first.

National Congress leader A.L.M. Athaullah is reported to have asked the President to declare whatever election he pleases taking into account the country’s political landscape. “You are politically more knowledgeable than us. So, declare whatever election you like. We will support your decision,” Mr. Athaullah is reported to have said.

MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardane, presidential advisor Vasudeva Nanayakkara and UNP Democratic Group member M.H. Mohamed had said it would be advisable for the government to have the Presidential election first.

However, Ceylon Workers Congress leader Arumugam Thondaman and All Ceylon Muslim Congress Leader Rishard Bathiudeen pointed out that a parliamentary election would be more advantageous at this point.

They said that if former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka joined the fray as a common presidential candidate, he would be able to get a sizeable chunk of the Sinhala votes in the South leaving the UPFA candidate in a difficult situation and as such it would be wise to have the general election first.

“If the presidential election is held first and we lose it, we may lose the subsequent general election as well. However, there are two more years for the term of the President to expire. As a result, it is prudent for us to have the general election first and return to power with a fresh mandate,” one of them said.

Some political party representatives had requested the President to conduct both the elections on the same day.

Fact box

* President Mahinda Rajapaksa summoned all electoral organizers for a meeting on October 11, and asked them to get ready for a major election.

* MP Basil Rajapaksa announced last Thursday that he would resign from his parliamentary seat to spearhead the election campaign.

* President is to make an announcement regarding the next election on November 15.But the President is reported to have said he would talk to political party leaders in the UPFA alliance individually before coming to any conclusion.

-Sri Lanka Guardian