The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People's Power (NPP) of the Parliamentary Opposition stated that talks about holding a Parliamentary Election before the Presidential Election are only an attempt to suppress the issues faced by the people.

With the Presidential Election scheduled to be held late this year, it was reported that a faction of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarians is of the view that a Parliamentary Election should be held before it. The matter has led to a social discussion as to which election out of the Parliamentary and Presidential elections would be held first.

Speaking to The Daily Morning on the matter, NPP MP Vijitha Herath said that talks about holding a Parliamentary Election before the Presidential Election are aimed at suppressing the issues faced by the people, and the Government's programmes that may lead to adverse consequences.

“The cost of living is so high that the people cannot afford it. The expressways are going to be sold to private companies. It is to suppress them that the Government has created a talk about a Presidential Election,” he said.

He also said that they are well aware that it is the Presidential Election that will be held first, and that they (NPP) are currently preparing for it. “Whatever they say about a Parliamentary Election, it will be the Presidential Election that comes first. We are getting ready for it,” he said.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, late last year (2023), said that the Government would facilitate both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections this year, but, the President's Media Division recently stated that the Presidential Election would be held this year, and that the Parliamentary Election would be held next year (2025). 

SLPP's former National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa had also conveyed the Party's view to the President that the Parliamentary Election should be held first. The Election Commission meanwhile assured on Tuesday (26) that the Presidential Election will be held within the stipulated time, during the period from 17 September to 17 October of this year, even if the Parliamentary Election will also have to be held this year.