Parliamentarian Prof. G.L. Peiris on Saturday said the Local Government elections will be held on 9 March as scheduled and the Government will be forced to call for Parliamentary poll soon after.
The MP representing the Freedom People’s Alliance during a press conference held over the weekend said there was a concerted effort to create a sense of uncertainty among the people about the holding of polls.
“This is not a mere Local Government election. It is an election of national importance that will be held on 9 March,” Prof Peiris noted. He also commended the Election Commission for its brave and clear undertaking to hold elections as scheduled before the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.
According to the MP, this is a great opportunity for the country’s people to express their opinion on the current Government and its activities. “After 9 March there will be a great ripple effect and Parliament will have to be dissolved by mid this year,” he opined. The MP said the Government will be forced to hold Parliamentary elections even with great reluctance.
“It is impossible to find sustainable solutions to any issues faced by the country without a people’s mandate. The Government has no right to stay in power,” he added.
Prof. Peiris said while Governments more often than not support the Election Commission to hold elections, this time around the Government has attempted all tactics possible to obstruct the holding of elections as never before in the country’s history.
He said 23 Opposition parties managed to come together to take action against the Government’s attempts to hamper polls and emerge victorious by defeating these devious plans.