Drastic decline in UNP, JVP vote base:

UPFA aims two thirds majority

Hiran H. SENEWIRATNE

The UPFA would seek a two-thirds majority mandate from the people at the forthcoming general election, said Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.

The Government is optimistic and positive about obtaining a two thirds majority at the next general election. During the recent elections the vote bases of both the UNP and the JVP had declined dramatically, Minister de Silva said.

He said that former President J.R. Jayewardene’s 1978 Constitution put the entire country in an election trap. And now the UPFA is seeking a two-third majority mandate from the people to change the current Proportional Representative (PR) system.

He said the Southern Provincial Elections gave a clear mandate to the UPFA Government and in the last few elections it was clearly indicated that UPFA’s vote base had increased more than 65 percent. UNP and JVP leaders are living in a fools paradise. We are quite certain that we will obtain a two-third majority at the forthcoming general election, he said.

He said the Southern Provincial Council Election has strengthened President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the UPFA Government and has given a message to the international community that the Government is moving forward.

“This election could be considered the most peaceful election in history. Voters were free and were at liberty to cast their vote under President Rajapaksa’s Government,” Minister de Silva said at a media conference at the Mahaweli Centre.

The UNP though being the main Opposition party in the country failed to retain its vote base in previous elections and now they have to begin with a 17 percent vote base, while the JVP will not be able to maintain its position as a single party, he said.

Further, Tissamaharama electorate being the JVP stronghold did not perform well in the last election which is considered to be a major setback, Minister de Silva said.

Minister de Silva said the Government wanted to bring amendments to the current Elections Act to change the current voting system. It could not be passed because the Government did not have a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

He said that the SLFP annual convention will be held on November 15 at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium where they intend to take certain political decisions at grass roots level to face the future general election under the patronage of its leader President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Education Minister Susil Premajayanth said both the UNP and JVP vote base had dwindled at the Southern Provincial Council Election. When compared to the 2005 Presidential election the UPFA has obtained a 43.20 percent majority, he said.

He said that being the UPFA General Secretary he reposed all confidence in the Elections Commission and had no reservations about this election whatsoever. However, any aggrieved parties especially political parties or a candidate could forward petitions before the Court of Appeal under Elections law, he said.

He said the Southern Province Chief Minister will be announced shortly and he/she will be appointed by considering how he had behaved in the election campaign, seniority, his capabilities and his track record in his political arena.