Prez under SLPP pressure to dissolve Parliament before May 15 – Udaya

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila yesterday (06) alleged that the ruling SLPP was cranking up pressure on President Ranil Wickremesinghe to dissolve Parliament before 15 May.

The move was meant to pave the way for an early parliamentary election, ahead of the presidential polls scheduled for Sept/Oct this year, the former Power and Energy Minister said.

The Colombo District lawmaker said so in response to a query raised at his regular media briefing held at the Etul-Kotte party office.

MP Gammanpila asserted that the SLPP is of the view that it would be advantageous for the party to face the general elections ahead of the presidential poll.

Declaring that the party that fielded the successful candidate at the presidential poll automatically gained unbeatable advantage at the general election, MP Gammanpila said that the SLPP was in a deepening dilemma.

The PHU contested the last general election on the SLPP ticket. Gammanpila was the only successful PHU candidate at that election.

MP Gammanpila said that an early general election would pave the way for an unstable Parliament as no political party was in a position to secure a 2/3 majority.

Pointing out that in terms of the Constitution, Parliament couldn’t be dissolved for a period of two and a half years, the MP warned of dire consequences if President Wickremesinghe succumbed to SLPP pressure.

The PHU leader alleged that the SLPP’s despicable intention was to cause further destabilization amidst the continuing political, economic and social chaos.

“We urge President Wickremesinghe to go ahead with the presidential polls. The President should do what is good for the country,” MP Gammanpila said.

The former Minister said that President Wickremesinghe, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, touted as presidential candidates, had nothing new to offer. MP Gammanpila said that their grouping was in the process of reaching a consensus on a candidate who would meet the aspirations of the people.

MP Gammanpila flayed President Wickremesinghe for deceiving the plantation community by declaring a minimum daily wage of Rs 1,700 even without consulting plantation management companies. He questioned the rationale in announcing a wage increase before reaching a consensus with management companies. The May Day announcement was meant to deceive plantation workers, MP Gammanpila said. (SF)