NPP: Ranil threatening stability of country by trying to put off polls

By Saman Indrajith

All Sri Lankans who want a stable country must resist the attempts being made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to postpone the local government elections, National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake says.

“There are many individuals in Parliament. Sri Lankans rose against such people who stole from them in 2022,” he said, adding that the corrupt politicians had chosen Ranil Wickremesinghe as their protector. Ranil did not have the interests of the people at heart, the NPP leader said.

“He wants to protect the interests of the Rajapaksas and his friends. He is afraid of the people, and this is why he is doing his best to postpone elections,” Dissanayake said.The NPP leader said that in the past there had been no doubts about an election announced by the Election Commission (EC).

“But this time around, the EC has declared local council elections will be held on 09 March but the people are not sure yet. They are waiting to teach the government a good lesson on 09 March and they will not tolerate any attempts to postpone elections,” the JVP leader said.

Dissanayake also warned the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance that attempts to hinder the activities of the elections commission were a punishable offence.

“An NPP government will hold an inquiry into their actions. State officials must serve the people; they must not follow the illegal dictates of the President,” he said.

The NPP leader said that holding elections was a priority of the state. It is as important as paying salaries because the stability of the country depended on elections.

“Ranil Wickremesinghe is a close relative of J.R. Jayewardene, who was notorious for postponing elections. JR’s actions led to blood baths in the country. Ranil is trying to create chaos. He is an agent of chaos,” Dissanayake said.