At next Presidential Elections:

‘President will receive over 70 pc of votes’

Samanmalee Priyashanthi

At the next Presidential Election, President Mahinda Rajapaksa will get more than 70 percent of votes cast, Media Minister Laskhman Yapa Abeywardena said.

Government has obtained more percentage of votes at the Western Provincial Council Election than the votes cast at the previously held Eastern, Sabaragamuwa, North Central, Wayamba and Central Provincial Council Elections. In this basis, we can place this high hope at the Presidential Election, the Minister said.

The UNP should not under-estimate the victory of the Government at this Provincial Council Election.

Rather, they should decide whether they should participate or not at the Presidential Election to be held after November 19.

The Minister made these revelation at the press conference held at the Government Information Department yesterday. Presidential Election will be held between November 19 and April 30, he said.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike obtained 62 percent at her first Presidential Election while she scored 52 percent at the second one.

Generally there will be less percentage of votes a President will get at the second time.

However, President Mahinda Rajapaksa based on the recent Provincial Council Elections results will definitely get a higher percentage of votes at the next Presidential Election, Minister said.

It is also a significant that the majority of the Government at the Provincial Councils Elections for outnumber the total votes UNP polled in all these districts, Minister Lakshman Yapa said.