President opens-up polls map - Mervyn

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Former President J R Jayewardene folded the electoral map while President Mahinda Rajapaksa unfolded it, Public Relations and Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva said.

“The UPFA will win the September 8 Provincial Council election in all three provinces with a large majority,” the minister told the Daily News.

Silva said a government can go forward only by checking public opinion. "The people at rallies do not portray the accurate public opinion. If public support for the government is weak, the government needs to introduce changes," the minister said. He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa is always ready to test public opinion.

"No other leader had this quality. All leaders kept their power till the last minute. President Jayewardene got his term extended while President Rajapaksa got his term shortened," he said.

Minister Silva said if elections are held on a single day, the whole country comes to a stand still.

"The public will not be able to get any work done. The entire country will be paralyzed. The government can hold elections at any time. Since the Opposition cannot dance, it says the floor is not flat. A good dancer can dance even without the aid of a drum. The Opposition cannot dance and therefore always accuses the government," he said.

"There is no doubt about the UPFA winning the election in all three PCs with a huge majority. The main reason for this is that the people love President Mahinda Rajapaksa and have confidence in him. People know that he loves all communities without any difference. He brought about a religious revival in the entire country," Minister Silva added.