The proposal by the United National Party (UNP) to postpone the upcoming Presidential and General elections should be rejected outright by the broader Sri Lankan political canvas. The move, which came from left field, and was articulated by UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara yesterday (28) with a pitiful justification, is likely a distraction ahead of the main election campaign season. 

The President had informed the Cabinet of Ministers earlier this month that the Presidential election will be held first and poured cold water on the partnering Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) probing move to seek a general election first.

Range Bandara’s use of ‘economic stability’ and the need to sustain the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement as a justification for postponement of polls is weak use of two key election issues as a crutch to support this diabolical use of spin. Given the source of the suggestion, one can draw conclusions if it is something the Ranil Wickremesinghe-led UNP is serious about.  It is also undemocratic in nature. The said proposal is not feasible from a constitutional point of view, and will likely be challenged by many via the Judiciary. It is likely that Range Bandara knows that the said proposal will likely go nowhere. Therefore the question is why propose it? The pre-election period until dates for the election is announced is a period of preparation and planning, this curve ball by Range Bandara is likely to throw the opposition voters and organisers into a frenzy, and disrupt the planning and preparatory process. Such action will likely draw strong criticism, sow confusion and muddy the waters before the election. It offers a good distraction for the UNP which is struggling to revive its organisation and secure a sizable voter base. It is intriguing to see if the President will move to distance himself from this proposal in the coming days.

Such a proposal, if legally possible, would still require strong support in the Parliament and this will pose a challenge to the UNP. Who will support such a move? The UNP has only one seat – one vote in the house. The SLPP, though partners in Government, will not support it, at least as a party. When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday about the suggestion by the UNP General Secretary, the Chief Opposition Whip and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Lakshman Kiriella charged that the Government is attempting to 'sabotage' the people’s right to vote and free and fair elections as they have already understood that they cannot win the upcoming elections. “What an irrational statement to be made by a politician. It clearly depicts how the Government and its allies have accepted that they cannot win the elections. But, it does not mean that they have a right to sabotage the elections. We would take necessary steps if they try to do so,” he added. Other members of the SJB also fronted the media yesterday to state that they will be taking measures to defeat any such motion that is tabled in the Parliament to postpone the elections, claiming that the Constitution does not include any provision to do so. the Executive Committee Member of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Sunil Watagala told The Daily Morning, that holding the Presidential Election at the given time period is a mandatory provision of the Constitution that cannot be changed by any party, including the President. Accordingly, he said that Range Bandara’s statement does not hold merit legally. He also said that if the President does not call the Presidential Election, the Election Commission has the sole authority to call it, and that therefore, the Presidential Election will be held as scheduled. He also said that the NPP will not support any motion that proposes the postponement of the two said Elections. Commenting on Range Bandara’s statement, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser, Government MP Namal Rajapaksa also upheld that postponing elections is not healthy for any democracy, stating that extending the terms of the President and the Parliament undermines the fundamental principles of a democratic society. “Stability should come through the will of the people, not by delaying their voice,” he said in a social media post. 

As such, the public should not get side tracked with such disruptions and smokescreens ahead of the elections. This is the nature of Sri Lanka’s bankrupt political culture, we need to rise above it.