Basil Fires First Salvo Aiming Next Presidential Election

September 27, 2014

Political observers have suggested that the opening of a new Headquarters by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to tackle future election endeavours, clearly suggests an upcoming Presidential Election.

The office was inaugurated by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa. Political observers have predicted that these are ‘clear’ signs of an upcoming Presidential Election and a General Election.

BBC Sandeshaya reports that, even though the next Presidential election is scheduled to be in November 2016, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has all the rights to hold it whenever he desires.

Political observers have predicted that the next Presidential Election could be expected at the end of January 2015.

Senior Minister A H M Fowzie has said that the new headquarters will act as the base of operations for the SLFP and UPFA for all future elections.

Meanwhile, Speaking to a daily Sinhala newspaper last week, SLFP General Secretary and senior Cabinet Minister Maithripala Sirisena said the government was not in a hurry to announce a presidential election.

“We have nearly two years in Parliament and the President still has two more years to remain in office. So we are not in a hurry to go for an election. We will announce the election at the right moment. Im am not aware of any premature election,” the Minister had told the ‘Lankadeepa’ newspaper. The Minister has also stated that the opposition does not pose any threat to the government. 

“The people of the country are still supportive of the government and the ruling party is still in a strong position,” the SLFP General Secretary asserted.