By Shamindra Ferdinando

The SJB yesterday (22) said President Ranil Wickremesinghe had made known his intention not to conduct the Local Government (LG) polls.

Top SJB spokesperson Mujibur Rahman said that addressing the Special General Convention of the UNP at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, President Wickremesinghe had declared that the presidential polls would be held in 2024, followed by a general election, and the LG polls would be conducted in early 2025.

Rahman said President Wickremesinghe had made no reference to LG polls which were scheduled to be held in March this year, and accused the latter of exerting pressure on the Supreme Court hearing case pertaining to postponed LG polls.

The former MP said that he had moved the SC after government ignored a Court of Appeal directive in March this year that funds be released for conducting the LG polls. Rahman alleged that President Wickremesinghe had deliberately left out LG polls in his statement.

Commenting on President Wickremesinghe’s declaration regarding presidential and parliamentary polls, Rahman said that those national level elections were conducted in terms of the Constitution. “Actually, there is no need for the President to give an assurance regarding presidential and parliamentary polls. The issue at hand is LG polls,” he added.

Responding to another query, Rahman said that the Opposition would take up the issue in and outside parliament. He dismissed as mere rhetoric UNP National List MP and its Chairman Wajira Abeywardena’s claime at the UNP’s Special General Convention that Wickremesinghe could win the next presidential poll with a staggering 10 mn votes. “The truth is the UNP down to just one MP in Parliament is scared of facing the electorate. Therefore, the President has decided not to hold LG polls,” Rahman said, adding that the President’s assurance in respect of the presidential and parliamentary polls could be a ruse to divert public attention.

Rahman urged the SLPP to explain its stand on the LG polls. Having elected Wickremesinghe the President in July last year the SLPP couldn’t remain silent on the issue at hand, the ex-MP said.

The former MP said that the Bar Association had condemned threats to the judiciary and attempts to influence the judges hearing cases pertaining to the postponed LG polls. Rahman said that civil society, Election Commission and political parties should respond to threats President Wickremesinghe posed to democracy.