SB predicts next Presidential poll date

Wijitha Nakkawita

Opposition Leader of the Central Provincial Council S.B. Dissanayake predicted the next Presidential election to be held on February 22, 2010 when he went on the air over a local TV channel Monday night.

He said the Government by that date would not be able to 'sell the war' and the people wanted a change of Government.

He also said the UNP leader was good and the party could face the presidential poll with confidence but he failed to say whether Ranil Wickremesinghe could win the election defeating President Rajapaksa.

During the telecast Dissanayake appeared to be groping for words and he omitted any mention of the reasons for the continued defeat faced by the UNP during the past several elections.

He of course said the Government had succeeded in defeating the terrorists group and credit should be given to the Government for it.

However when asked for a comment on Dissanayake's prediction about the future presidential poll and a UNP leader winning it some UNP Parliamentarians on condition of anonymity said the party could not expect a victory even at the next two provincial polls, Southern and Uva Provinces let alone victory at a general or presidential election.

However UNP sources also said UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake was not happy with the political activities and plans of Dissanayake in the Central Province as the latter had overshadowed most of the senior party men in the Province.