Date of elections cannot be decided by foreign powers - Ven. Warakawe Dhammaloka Thera

by Asela Kuruluwansa

The date of the next Presidential election is a matter that has to be decided by the people of this country in terms of its Constitution and not by foreign powers, the Registrar of the Asgiriya Chapter the Ven. Warakawe Dhammaloka Thera said yesterday.

Condemning the statement of Australian Prime Minister John Howard in this connection at the International Democrat Union (IDU) meeting, the Ven. Thera said this was tantamount to an interference in the affairs of a sovereign and independent state.

"Although foreign powers may focus their attention on problems and issues confronting other nations, this in no way gives them a license to act in a manner that would damage the independence and sovereignty of such nations."

While rejecting the conduct of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in forwarding a motion at the IDU that Sri Lanka's Presidential Election should be held in 2005, the Ven. Thera said the issue over the date of the next Presidential poll should not concern foreign countries.

It is a matter that has to be dealt by the officials appointed for such tasks.