Presidential poll date before year end

General elections on same day?:

Anuradha KODAGODA

The next Presidential Election will definitely be announced before the end of this year.

There is a possibility of having the Parliamentary election also together with the Presidential Election, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardhane told a press conference at the Media Ministry yesterday.

“The President has powers under the Constitution to decide within his Presidential time frame when to have the next Presidential Election,” the Minister said.

The Minister also said the United Nation’s High Commissioner’s office for IDPs has agreed to the Government request for US $ 3 million to increase the level of efficiency of the de-mining process which is going on in the Northern province.

“This will facilitate the re-settlement process in these areas,” he said.

“Whatever the criticism hurled by the opposition parties, we as the Government of the country has a responsibility to make sure the security and also to provide all infrastructure facilities to all these people who live in IDP camps.

We are treating these people as our own and the Government is putting all efforts to provide a better future to these people and their children.

As at today, we have re-settled 106,161 people in their villages and there are 196,088 people still in these IDP camps.