President seeks fresh mandate
President Mahinda Rajapaksa at an auspicious time yesterday morning
sent a proclamation to the Commissioner of Elections stating his intent
to seek a fresh mandate at a Presidential election. This was in
accordance with Article 30 (3a) of the Constitution of the Democratic
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka which states:
|
The people
earlier gave us a
mandate to unify the country.
Today we seek their mandate
to strengthen the program of rebuilding the country that has
been liberated. It is my belief that all those patriotic,
progressive forces would properly fulfill
their duties and responsibilities
in achieving this task |
- President Mahinda
Rajapaksa to party
leaders at Temple Trees yesterday |
“Not withstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding
provisions of this Chapter (Chapter VII - The Executive Ed), the
President may, at any time after the expiration of four years from the
commencement of his first term of office, by Proclamation, declare his
intention of appealing to the people for a mandate to hold office, by
election, for a further term.”
Soon afterwards the President met Senior SLFP ministers, leaders of
the constituent parties of the UPFA and several other parties.
At this meeting 30 political parties expressed their support to
President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forthcoming presidential election.
This makes him a formidable candidate with the widest political support
in the country. The UPFA has already made wide arrangements to respond
to the President’s decision with a display of popular support throughout
the country today. An office has already been instituted to house the
Election Steering Committee of the UPFA.
The Commissioner of Elections will announce the date of nominations
and the election in accordance with the provisions of Article 30 (5) of
the Constitution. t |
