Sri Lanka’s UNP says ready for elections, but only if held legally
Posted on November 15th, 2018
Courtesy NewsIn.Asia
Addressing the rally, Wickremesinghe said that a no confidence motion on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse which was presented in Parliament on Wednesday had been passed by a majority and called on President Maithripala Sirisena to accept the results declared by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.
Wickremesinghe said his party was ready to face a parliamentary election but only if it was held according to the country’s Constitution.
We will protect out Parliament. We are not scarred to hold an election. We are ready to hold Presidential and a General Election both, but only if its held legally,” Wickremesinghe said.
Thousands of people attended the rally held on Thursday afternoon under tight security with police unable to confirm an exact number.
Security was heightened in several areas in Colombo and several roads were cordoned off as a result of the demonstration.
Earlier on Thursday, delivering a special statement in Parliament Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse called for all parties to agree to hold a parliamentary election in order to resolve the weeks long political crisis.
He said true democracy would only prevail if the public were given a mandate to decide their future government.