A warning has been issued that the government while postponing the local government election which has not been held for six years is now, is working towards an agenda, where it is fast tracking development projects to coincide with the conducting of the Presidential election this year.
The People’s Action For Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) has charged that the Ranil Wickremasinghe government is using its resources in the run-up to the election for finish off development projects before the Presidential election which its Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said has to be held in July 2024.
“The government will either postpone an election or complete its developments projects to entice voters by the time the ballot takes place.
“The government is working on an agenda to fulfill its developments projects by the time the election is on,” said Hettiarachchi at a Press conference on Thursday.
But Hettiarachchi declared that neither the government nor President Wickremasinghe has to determine the day of the election which is in the hands of the Elections Commission and must be held in July.
“If the government completes all its developments projects by the time the election takes place which has to be held in July then it becomes favourable to the government which is exploiting State machinery to its advantage,” said Hettiarachchi.
Meanwhile an Opposition Member of Parliament rubbished President Ranil Wickremasinghe’s request to join the government in his address to MPs when the ninth Session of the legislature commenced for a new term on Wednesday.
“Ranil Wickremasinghe is suppressing all peaceful Opposition protests in the country and now wants us to join his government. This is not possible,” said MP Dilan Perera.
