Results show even Sajith cannot win - Maithripala

Irangika RANGE

The results of the September 8 PC polls have proved not only UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe but also his deputy, Sajith Premadasa are unable to win elections, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary, Minister Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday.

Minister Maithripala Sirisena

“We used to call Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe incompetent but now we are sure his deputy, Sajith too can not resurrect the UNP which was once known as the grand old party,” he said.

Addressing the weekly media briefing at the Mahaweli Centre, the SLFP General Secretary said that the results also indicated the UNP has to find a new leader if it wants to win future elections.

The UNP tried to score by capitalizing on the drought, but they failed miserably as the people, especially farmers in the North Central Province, who were battered by the drought stayed with and voted for the government.

Therefore, we have decided to provide all possible facilities including seed paddy and fertilizer free to these farmers for the next season. The President has also ordered the suspension of interest for pawned items by the farmers. He further said the poll was more of a referendum than an election for the UPFA. The results show that the people have endorsed the government’s development drive.

‘The United People’s Freedom Alliance has achieved a massive victory in the Provincial Council elections which reiterates the people’s confidence in the President and the government.

Minister Sirisena said the government’s victory at the election is an obvious answer to the international conspiracies against the country. ‘This victory is a slap in the face of international critics and also a triumph of Sri Lanka’s friends all over the world,” he said. He said the Provincial Council elections were conducted in a free and fair manner. “We thank the Elections Commissioner, his officials and Armed Forces personnel, including the Police, for their commitment to free and fair exercise of the franchise.

‘Usually, the loosing party of an election cries foul after election and this time nobody has complained against the victory of the UPFA. There was no qualitative election campaign by the Opposition other than character assassination and mud slinging against the President. They did not have a proper programme to ensure their victory. It was clear that the election campaign of the Opposition was bankrupt from the beginning,” he added.