The local government polls should precede the presidential election, stresses constitutional expert Prof. G.L. Peiris.
The Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) MP told the media today (17) the law permits presidential election to take place only between September 18 and October 18 next year.
A successor president cannot call an election after four years, except through a parliamentary resolution with a two-third majority passage, said Prof. Peiris.
The constitution cannot be changed for petty political gains, and any change should have a public mandate, he noted.
Speaking further, the MP warned the proposed anti-terrorism bill will evaporate media freedom.
There was no transparency whatsoever in the government’s talks with the IMF, and the pact with the global lender would not be supported by any FPC MP, he added.