Reproduced from The Island published on Apr.03rd 2006 By Shamindra Ferdinando
SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena Sunday ruled out a snap general election to seek an absolute majority in Parliament.
Addressing a press conference at the SLFI, the Mahaweli Development Minister emphasised that there would not be an election for several years.
He expressed confidence in the continued support of the JVP and JHU to President Mahinda Rajapakse’s government both in and outside Parliament. Constitutional Affairs Minister D. E. W. Gunasekera said that Provincial Council elections were held four years ago.
Messrs Sirisena, Gunasekera and MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardene, Minister, emphasised that last Thursday’s sweeping local government polls victory would not break-up their grand alliance with the JVP and JHU.
Gunawardene pointed out that the total votes polled by the ruling coalition, the JVP and JHU taken together represented what he termed as the anti-UNP vote. "It was an unprecedented vote for Mahinda Chintanaya," the minister said, claiming the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims contributed towards last week’s victory. He praised Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake for making the National Identify Card compulsory. It was a significant step in the right direction, he said, promising to step up the NIC issuing process, thereby making it available to all.
At the outset, Sirisena, making a statement on behalf of the government, said that President Mahinda Rajapakse’s recently concluded visit to Islamabad was to enhance bi-lateral relations
It was to enhance relations, particularly in the sphere of education, trade, agriculture and sports. He declined to elaborate. The Island learns that the President directed Sirisena to clarify the issue following the April 1 date-lined AP report quoting a senior President’s Media Office spokesman as saying that the government expected military assistance from Pakistan, a major supplier. But a Joint Statement date-lined April 1 issued in Islamabad reiterated Pakistan’s continued support for Sri Lankan armed forces. "Pakistan reaffirmed its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka and for the ongoing peace process in the country. The two sides agreed to make every effort to further strengthen their multifaceted and multi-sectoral cooperation in the fields of education, culture, commerce and trade, science and technology, defence and tourism for the common benefit based on the tradition of friendly relations, which have always existed."
According to the communique Chairman of the Pakistan Senate, senior Minister if Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs discussed a range of issues of mutual interest.
Sirisena said that last week’s victory was a further endorsement of Mahinda Chintanaya. According to him the UPFA polled 3,369,074 (48.81 percent), the UNP 2,4 28,7 31 (35.19 per cent) and the JVP 8, 24,359 (11.99 per cent).
Describing the JVP and JHU as friendly parties, he said that they polled a significant 61 percent of the vote. He acknowledged that if they contested jointly, the UNP would have been wiped out. "We could have easily secured all local bodies," he said. The split in the coalition vote helped the UNP to secure three Municipal Councils, 14 Urban Councils and 17 Pradeshiya Sabhas.
