• SJB notes unafraid of election, but Prez poll before November illegal
• UNP says the only election the current circumstances call for is a Presidential election

The main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), yesterday (21) pointed out that while it is unafraid of contesting any election, the President can only legally declare the Presidential election after four years into his term, as noted in Article 31 of the Constitution.

Speaking to The Morning, SJB General Secretary MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said: “We are ready for any election, but the President can declare the Presidential election only after four years. People who talk about a Presidential election before the lapse of four years have therefore referred to something that cannot be carried out legally,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Chief Opposition Whip, SJB MP and Attorney Lakshman Kiriella noted that under the Constitution, the President can, after four years, call a Presidential election. 

“It is the President who has the discretion to call for an election, and the SJB is ready to contest any such election. We have no control over this. It is the President who has the power and the legal right to call a Presidential Election after four years. If he calls an election, we have to face it, and we have to come forward and contest. Whatever election that comes, we are confident,” he added.

However, United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara, speaking to the media on Tuesday (20), noted that the only election the current circumstances call for is a Presidential election, as opposed to Local Government, Provincial Council, or Parliamentary elections

“We present President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the only candidate who can save this country as the nation’s candidate for the Presidential election,” he added.