Political

Govt committed to free, fair poll

BY MANJULA Fernando

THE Government yesterday vowed to hold a free and fair Presidential Election this year emphasising that it would uphold the ruling of the Supreme Court.

Shedding all speculation on the timing of the next Presidential poll, the Supreme Court ruled that the election should be held within this year according to Constitutional provisions.

Holding a media conference at Temple Trees last evening, hours after the Supreme Court ruling, Government Spokesman Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said: "As a party and a Government which has a high respect for democratic norms and the judiciary, we will fully abide by the Supreme Court ruling."

The media conference was attended by Ministers Dinesh Gunawardena, Susil Premajayantha and Anura Priyadharshana Yapa and Deputy Ministers Sripathi Suriyaarachchi and Cegu Issadeen.

Ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Maithripala Sirisena also rushed to the conference in Colombo after attending a public rally at Matara, held under the patronage of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse.

"We are of the view that the judiciary has the ultimate authority to interpret the Constitution," Minister de Silva said adding that President Kumaratunga was the first person to propose that the matter should be referred to the SC to get a clear interpretation of the Constitution on the next Presidential poll.

Stressing that the SLFP is quite confident of the victory of its Candidate Mahinda Rajapakse the spokesman said the "UNP will have no place against him."

"Unlike the UNP we have no doubts of our victory. He is known to the common people. He is honest, able and caring and a strong candidate loved by all communities of the country. He is not a leader who will sell out the country."

Responding to media queries the Minister said Prime Minister's election manifesto will explain his policy towards the peace process and other important matters.

"After the Elections Commissioner's announcement on the nominations for the Presidential election, we will release our manifesto. Why should we jump the gun," the Minister responded adding that however it will not have any major deviations from the "Rata Perata" programme.

Minister Samaraweera said if anyone should get the credit for the Supreme Court ruling it should be President Kumaratunga.

"She always held that she must leave at the end of her rightful term. She could have conspired to stay in power or change the Constitution using executive powers but her opinion was that she must leave in due time to let other leaders in the party succeed."

Rejecting UNP claims that the ruling was a people's victory, Minister Samaraweera said the UNP will hear the people's voice hard at the forthcoming Presidential Election.