General Election 2015

Wickremasinghe Warns Of Constitutional Logjam If Rajapaksa Becomes PM

August 15, 2015

As the month-long campaign for the August 17 Sri Lankan parliamentary elections closed this weekend, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe warned of a constitutional logjam if Mahinda Rajapaksa becomes Prime Minister.

“No Prime Minister can take the country forward while being at loggerheads with the President,” Wickremesinghe said, alluding to the on-going public spat between his rival, former President Rajapaksa, and the incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena.

While Wickremesinghe has good relations with Sirisena, having fought the January 8 Presidential election as allies, Rajapaksa and Sirisena have been at daggers drawn since Sirisena quit his party to fight Rajapaksa as the Joint Opposition Candidate in the Presidential election.

They are fighting over the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and also the Premiership. While Rajapaksa is desperate to become PM, Sirisena has told him that he will not appoint him PM under any circumstance. To weaken Rajapaksa’s hold over UPFA and SLFP, Sirisena has sacked their General Secretaries.

Rebuts Rajapaksa

Rebutting Rajapaksa’s charge that he will yield to the demand of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for a “federal constitution” and eventually “an independent Tamil Eelam”, Wickremesinghe has said that he is only for a “unitary” constitution.

On Rajapaksa’s charge that he has stopped all developmental work started in his time; stopped Chinese-funded projects; and had fallen prey to Western machinations, Wickremesinghe’s has said that all projects, except one, have been reassessed; renegotiated for favorable terms; and restarted. All new highway building contracts have been given to Chinese companies.

As if to rebut the charge that that he will favor India, Wickremesinghe has ordered an inquiry into the US$ 881 million Indian railway project in North Lanka.

On Rajapaksa’s scare that he will be sent to the electric chair abroad for alleged “war crimes”, Wickremesinghe assured that no Lankan will be handed over to foreigners and no international body will be allowed to inquire into war crimes charges.

(The New Indian Express)

Sri Lanka Ends Election Campaigning For Parliamentary Polls

August 15, 2015

Sri Lankan political parties ended its election campaigning on Friday midnight for a parliamentary election on Monday.

Additional Election Commissioner M. M. Mohamed said yesterday that measures will be taken to ensure that political parties strictly observe the election laws and halt all types of campaigning activities 48 hours before voting gets underway on Aug. 17.

More than 60 political parties and over 100 independent groups are contesting the parliamentary polls which will elect a new 225- member parliament and a new government.

The battle for a majority will be between the two main political parties, the United National Front (UNF) led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the opposition United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) whose main candidate is former president Mahinda Rajapakse who will be contesting from the north western province of Kurunegala.

The UNF had in its campaigning pledged to re-build the island nation in the next 60 months with the launch of several development projects and offer stable jobs for the youth. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had expressed confidence in winning the polls and forming a united government with the inclusion of all minority parties.

The UPFA in its campaigning had reiterated to appoint Rajapakse as a future prime minister and form a stable majority government.

The UPFA also has expressed confidence in winning more than 113 seats in parliament to form a new government.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Sarath N. Silva Challenges Legality Of Removing Party General Secretary During Election Period

August 14, 2015

Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva stated that there were no legal provisions to remove a party General Secretary during an election.

Speaking at the final UPFA rally at Kurunegala, he said that the political parties are given a time frame in which they inform the Elections Commissioner if they are contesting the election. The parties also inform the names of the General Secretaries to the Elections Commissioner.

Thereafter, the EC interacts only with the General Secretary with regard to the election.

Only the Supreme Court can order the Elections Commissioner during an election period, Silva said. Therefore, an order of a lesser court does not have a legal binding as far as the Elections Commissioner is concerned, he argued.

Therefore, as far as the Elections Commissioner is concerned, the General Secretaries of the parties remain the same, he argued further.

Sarath N. Silva further stated that it is contrary to tradition to remove the party General Secretary without informing them.

Rajapaksa Defends His Foreign Policy

August 14, 2015

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa refuted the allegation that his foreign policy was a pro-China policy, arguing that he was able to get aid from even the United States.

Speaking at the ‘Rathu Ira’ political talk show telecasted last night on Swarnawahini, Rajapaksa said that he expanded the network of foreign missions of Sri Lanka in Africa and Latin America, expanding Sri Lanka’s foreign relations.

He added that the influence of the Tamil diaspora in certain countries had a negative impact on Sri Lanka’s relations with them. Furthermore, India had its own issues, he added. However, Rajapaksa insisted that he adopted a non-aligned foreign policy.

BJP Complains Of Lack Of Space On Media

August 14, 2015

Bodu Bala Sena CEO Dilanthe Withanage stated that the Bodu Jana Peramuna did not get the necessary space in media stations to answer the allegations leveled at the party.

Speaking to Asian Mirror, he said that the BJP has already lodged a complaint with the Elections Commissioner over the matter.

He said that the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa continuously accused the Bodu Bala Sena of being a part of an international conspiracy. He continuously made this allegation, making some voters apprehensive of the BJP, Withanage said.

Withanage also said that the BJP was hopeful of winning several seats in the election.

Elections Commissioner Requests State Media To Stop Transmission Of Sirisena's Letter (SEE EC's LETTER)

August 14, 2015

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya requested state electronic media to cease broadcasting and telecasting of President Maithripala Sirisena's letter to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The request was made after considering two complaints filed by United People's Freedom Lawyers' Association and United People's Freedom Alliance Lawyers' Association. The Elections Commissioner also said that the issue was brought to his attention by UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha over the phone.

Deshapriya said that the broadcasting of the letter will have a negative impact on the election campaign of the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

UPFA Holds Final Rally In Kurunegala: UNP, JVP In Colombo

August 14, 2015

The UNP will hold its final election rally this afternoon near Tower Hall, Colombo 10. A few other rallies will take place in Akuressa, Matara, Kalutara and Moratuwa.

Meanwhile, the UPFA final rally will be held at Kurunegala with the participation of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Meanwhile, the JVP final rally is to be held in Aluthkade Junction in Colombo this evening.

The Bodu Jana Peramuna final rally will be at Matugama and the Frontline Socialist Party will hold a rally in Piliyandala. The Democratic Party final rally is held at Maharagama this evening with the participation of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.

SLFP Seniors Reject Sirisena's Offer

August 14, 2015

Former Parliamentarian John Seneviratne declined President Maithripala Sirisena’s offer to become Prime Minister, on behalf of all seven SLFP seniors the President recommended in his letter to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Speaking at a press conference convened today, Seneviratne said that they support the name of Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister.

The seven seniors include Nimal Siripala de Silva, Susil Premajayantha, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, John Seneviratne, Athauda Seneviratne, AHM Fowzie and Chamal Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, Chamal Rajapaksa said that he does not expect the people to support his name as Prime Minister. Chamal Rajapaksa is the elder brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Agreement Already Signed To Name Rajapaksa PM: Premajayantha

August 14, 2015

UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha said that an agreement has already been reached by senior UPFA leaders to name Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister when the UPFA wins the forthcoming general election.

Speaking at the UPFA rally in Homagama, Premajayantha said that Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva, SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Bndula Gunawardena, Wimal Weerawansa, Dinesh Gunawardena Vasudeva Nanayakkara were among the signatories of the agreement. Premajayantha said that he also signed in the capacity of UPFA General Secretary.

Premajayantha also said that the agreement was signed and sealed in July, on the day the first UPFA rally was held in Anuradhapura.

Rajapaksa Thanks Facebook Campaigners (FULL LETTER)

August 14, 2015

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa thanked the social media campaigners who helped him over the past eight years on Facebook and other social media.

Releasing a letter, he said that these campaigners supported him because they loved their motherland. Rajapaksa said that these campaigners created a positive discourse on social media against various mud-slinging campaigns. The country is indebted to these campaigners, Rajapaksa said.

He pointed out that his opponents want to see a weakened nation with no idea of the proud history and culture. The Facebook campaigners helped to fight against this thinking, he said.