Poll before November 22

WITH the Supreme Court delivering the verdict on the Presidential Poll date, Elections Department sources said the Department is now studying the Supreme Court verdict to take steps to gazette the calling for nominations from registered political parties.

According to the Supreme Court verdict, the next Presidential Election has to be held before November 22 this year.

Jathika Hela Urumaya Parliamentary leader Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said that the Supreme Court verdict was not a victory for their party alone but was a victory of the people of this country.

United People's Freedom Alliance Secretary General Minister Susil Premajayantha said that the Government respected the decision of the Court and would act accordingly.

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that it was a victory for the people as the Courts have held in high esteem the sovereignty of the people.

SLMC Leader Rauf Hakeem welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court and said that the people are supreme and that fact has been upheld by the Supreme Court verdict.

Meanwhile, as the UNP National Youth Front (NYF) holds its convention today its convenor K.C.W. Karunaratne resigned from the UNP and joined the SLFP pledging support to ensure the victory of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse at the forthcoming Presidential Election.

He has appealed to the youth to reconsider attending the Youth rally in Colombo and said that UNP could not be trusted. He invited the youth to rally round the Prime Minister and work for his victory.