UNP hails Election Commissioner's stand

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 August 2005, 15:48 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) Tuesday hailed the decision of the Commissioner of Elections to hold the next presidential election this year as a victory for the people. Mr.Tissa Attanayake, Assistant Secretary of the UNP told media persons that the statement filed by the Commissioner of Elections in the Supreme Court has proved the constitutional legality on the presidential election controversy, sources said

Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), main constituent of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government said Tuesday that it would not comment before August 22 on the statement filed by the Commissioner of Elections in the Supreme Court Monday, sources said.

Mr.Nimal Sripala de Silva, Minister and Leader of the House and Mr.D.E.W.Gunasekara, Constitutional Affairs Minister Tuesday refused to comment on the Election Commissioner's decision until the Supreme Court announces its determination on this controversy after hearing all the parties, media sources said.

In the meantime, Mr.Rajiva Wijesinghe, Leader of the Liberal Party Tuesday filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking it to order the Commissioner of Elections to hold the presidential election in the year 2006 taking into consideration the fact that the incumbent President had taken oaths on 22nd December 2000 on which date her second term of presidency began, legal sources said