‘President will poll over 75%’

Chaminda PERERA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will secure more than 75% of the votes at a Presidential election which will be held after the Southern provincial council election, said Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena.

The Minister was speaking at a press briefing at the Information Ministry yesterday. He said the President will not go beyond the people’s mandate and the national consensus reached by all political parties will have to be approved by the public. “The President will not implement any settlement without approval from the public,” he said.

He said the President wanted to effect a cultural and moral renewal now that 30 years of war had ended.

A sub culture of arms has emerged in the country after terrorism was completely defeated in the country and the Government has taken all initiatives to control this trend. An operation is in progress to wipe out the underworld and the illicit drug menace from the country.

The Minister stressed that army deserters who failed to report to their respective regiments during the period in which the general amnesty was effective are not imprisoned in cells where other criminals are held.

Referring to a comment by an UNP Parliamentarian over the government’s reluctance to grant a pardon to the Army deserters, the Minister said the Government has declared a general amnesty to the army deserters from time to time.

The Sri Lanka Army has a different procedure to deal with the army deserters and the Government has not followed any double standards when it comes to the subject of army deserters.

According to the military law, the Security Forces personnel who are in the regular force should complete at least 12 years to qualify for the retirement, he said.