I will not step down from the election contest : Gen. Mahesh Senanayake

COLOMBO (News 1st)-Speaking at a media briefing, presidential candidate Mahesh Senanayake expressed the following views. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake: "During this particular presidential election up to November 16th, there is no way that I'll step down. But there are some elements, who do not want these alternative forces or the third force as they call it to be coming up the ladder in terms of politics in this country. So they make a lot of allegations and stories to say that we never get together and some of them are going to get dropped out." Journalist: Views have been expressed that independent candidates, even in the instance lets say that you win, that you will not be able to lead the country because you don't have a party as such to form a government. If it comes to that how will you? Mahesh Senanayake: "When you look at the constitution in this country it clearly says the president of the country has to be independent to start with. But there is a practical situation that might arise for the next 4 or 5 months because whoever wins or when I win especially, I will have to run the country for 3 to 4 months until the next general elections. But the president has enough powers to exhibit and has the authority to run and ensure the country is running or functioning smoothly and effectively, with whatever authority that is given to him." Gamini Wijesinghe, former Auditor General: "We have not given the domestic economy it's due place in 71 years. If we are to act now, even after a delay, we must protect the local farmer from the international prices. In addition to the security in terms of terrorism, we have also created a plan to protect the economy of the country. If we take a look at the agriculture, we say that the cost of each product that can be grown locally be considered and the import taxes be adjusted as at least 3 times the cost." Lacille de Silva, Executive Committee Member - Mahajana Sabhawa noted that they were appointed in 2015 to look into large scale fraud and corruption and they carried out their duty to the letter. "Where are those reports? Those reports could be of the President, or of the Prime Minister they have dismantled all of these institutions. They have spent millions for these and now they are inactive" he added. Gamini Nanda Gunawardhena, General Secretary - National Peoples' Power noted that if a candidate has already decided the prime minister following his win, it does not align with the constitution. He added that a clause in the constitution dictates that the person who can amass the confidence of a majority in Parliament should be invited by the person who is elected as the President.