Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities and leader of the National Freedom Front Wimal Weerawansa has said that JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s campaign claiming “Mahindata Ba" (Mahinda cannot) is actually motivated by Dissanayake’s inability and lack of confidence to contest against President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the forthcoming Presidential Election.
He made this comment yesterday speaking at the meeting organized by the Jathika Sanvidhana Ekamuthuva (Collective of National Organizations) in support of President Rajapaksa. The rally was organized to counter the protest rally conducted by the joint opposition yesterday against Executive Presidency.
Weerawansa claimed that there was a internal discourse within the JVP that the party should contest the election and Dissanayake is using all the tricks he has to evade the contest. He also said that the real slogan should not be "Mahinda cannot contest a third time" but "Anura Kumara cannot contest even once."
The rally organized by Collective of national organizations was attended by Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara, Dr Madagoda Abayatissa thera, Kirama Wimalajothi thera and Bengamuwe Nalaka thera. Most of the speakers who addressed the event strongly criticized the conduct of Athuraliye Rathana thera and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU).
The JVP has been campaigning under the slogan “Mahinda Cannot” on the grounds that the President is constitutionally hindered by contesting for a third term in office. Originally a president could be elected to office only twice under the 1978 Constitution but the 18 th Amendment passed in September 2010 removed this barrier. The JVP argues that since Mahinda Rajapaksa had already been elected to the post twice before the Amendment, he is automatically disqualified.
However the Supreme Court gave its opinion to the President on November 10, declaring that he does not have a legal barrier to contest again. Although no official announcement can be until Rajapaksa’s second term completes four years on November 19, government has repeatedly indicated that there will be an election in January 2015.
