Prime Minister is afraid of elections - Mahindananada Aluthgamage

Colombo (News 1st): The SLPP staged a protest in Kegalle yesterday (Feb 15), demanding Provincial Council elections. A large number of leaders and party members of the SLPP participated in this protest. As a result of the protest, there was traffic congestion in the vicinity of the Kegalle town. Chairman of the SLPP G.L. Peiris noted that the auditor general has stated that this government robs 25% of the income of this country and State Minister Ranjan Ramanayaka says that the cabinet is made of drug addicts. He noted that the Department of Elections was established to protect the democracy of the citizens and ensure they can exercise their right to vote, but the Department of Elections states that someone else should take the initiative. He added that they are ready to take on that responsibility. UPFA MP Kanaka Herath stated that they should question the TNA if they have any respect to be supporting the UNP. He noted that because the TNA wants the 13, they don't talk about the elections that are the right of the people. MP Mahindananada Aluthgamage expressing his views on this said that Ranil Wickremesinghe's government, as usual, is postponing all elections. He noted that recently they saw how the government postponed the provincial council elections by two and a half years. Should there have been elections, by now all provincial councils would have exceeded their terms. He went onto note that Ranil Wickremesinghe's government fears elections because he knows he can't win through an election. Aluthgamage noted that Wickremesinghe is not a leader who can win an election, which is why he always attempts to postpone elections. Meanwhile, several views were expressed from the political arena, regarding the upcoming elections. UNP MP Mujibur Rahman noted that his view is that they must hold provincial council elections because if not, political issues regarding the opposition cannot be resolved. MP Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa noted that the party he represented during the previous provincial council elections did not win even one zone. Therefore he noted that he has no intention to look that way. The parliamentarian notes that as long as President Sirisena is there, he will remain with him (President). Meanwhile, State Minister Dilip Wedaarachchi expressing his views regarding the situation noted that the current system of governance is deformed as the President supports one side. He noted that the government follows another direction and the Provincial Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas are set off in opposite directions. He went onto note that at this point in time, what the country needs is a presidential election and not provincial council elections. However, MP Rohitha Abeygunawardene notes that the constitutional council was formed to the benefit of Ranil Wickremesinghe. He pointed out that our country has an Elections Commission, however, this commission is not being empowered. He questioned; "if elections are being held when Ranil Wickremesinghe wants to, what is the purpose of an election commission?" MP Abeygunawardene noted that the constitutional council is a lie and the government is afraid of provincial council elections, as they know they will lose. Minister Navin Dissanayake added that previous election results have confirmed that the people from the south especially those from Matara, do not extend much support to their party. He noted, therefore, they have labeled the Matara, Hambantota, and Galle districts as Mahinda Rajapaksa districts.