Questioning whether the President is out of his mind, the JVP and National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Dissanayake stressed that they would take all possible measures against the anti-democratic actions of the appointed President, Ranil Wickramasinghe. He emphasized this while addressing a press conference held at the JVP head office at Pelawatta yesterday (24th). The General Secretary of the NPP, Specialist Dr Nihal Abeysinghe and its National Executive Member, Dr Anura Karunthilaka were also present at the conference. The JVP Leader said, “Yesterday, the President laughed while playing a comedy but presented dangerous things against the country and democracy. This President laughs at our country’s democracy. The groups around the President are laughing at the voting rights of the people of our country. The President expressed in the Parliament the eccentric desire to consolidate his power by undermining our country’s democracy and people’s right to vote. The President’s statements are not accepted by anyone with common sense. He thinks that he can deceive the people of this country by telling lies and coming out with ridiculous stories. That was the purpose and essence of the President. He says that an election has not been officially announced. It is a blatant lie. The vote was announced on January 5. Nominations were accepted. Bail money was accepted. Also, the date of January 21 was announced. Dates were set for postal votes. On the part of the Election Commission, they clearly present that all those measures are constitutional and legal. The respective District Secretaries have gazetted that there will be voting. Therefore, the President, without any responsibility, deliberately lied to achieve his own ulterior motives. The President does not even have the power to decide if the Election Commission has not taken constitutional and legal measures. If the Election Commissioner does not act legally, he can go to court. The President’s opinion is not the law of the land. The President has absolutely no right to present opinions stating that the vote is not legal. If there is any issue, it should be resolved by the court. But Ranil Wickramasinghe has sent his followers to the court not to decide whether the election is legal or not but to prevent the election. On the one hand, he comes to the Parliament and says that the election is not legal. On the other hand, a colonel is sent to the court to make a request to postpone the election saying that there is no money for the election. Ranil Wickramasinghe thinks that the people of this country are suffering from amnesia. Why did Ranil Wickramasinghe call the secretary of the treasury and tell him not to give money for the election? Why did Ranil Wickramasinghe call the Government Printer and tell her not to print ballot papers? It’s because there is an election. Why has Ranil Wickramasinghe’s party handed over nominations? Because there is an election. Ranil Wickramasinghe made a statement that he will not come on the election stage. It’s because there is an election. The people of this country know that there is an election, and that the various political parties, independent groups and the people are working together for the election. But the President says in the Parliament that there should be an to be postponed. He says that there is no election, there is no money to spend for an election, and even if there is money, there won’t be an election. As such, a reasonable doubt arises whether this President is acting consciously. Parliament has financial powers in our country. The Parliament has properly allocated the necessary provisions for holding the election. According to the Constitution, Ranil Wickramasinghe, who became the President using the Constitution, is violating the Constitution. He has to act according to the Constitution’s provisions and not violate it by trampling it on foot. The President does not have the power the Parliament has to allocate money from the Treasury. Therefore, the attempt to postpone an election by saying that there is no money is a highly outrageous act. Ranil Wickramasinghe’s announcement not to give money for the election and his pressure on the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance is completely unconstitutional. He again says that certain parties have made a request to postpone the election. Ranil Wickramasinghe cannot postpone the election even if such a request is made. Even if all 225 members of Parliament have signed and submitted a letter to postpone the election, the President cannot postpone it. According to our Constitution and the local government law, new local government institutions should be established before March 20. The Election Commission has full power to establish those local government bodies. Elections can be announced. It is the Election Commission that has the authority to make a statement if an unexpected situation arises for the conduct of the election. Next, Ranil Wickramasinghe pointed fingers at various people in Parliament (I was not in Parliament on the 23rd. I saw it through video) and stated that he was asked to postpone the election. This is a very serious act. Who are the people of the other parties who asked for the postponement of the election? Ranil Wickramasinghe should reveal to the country how it was requested. The people of the country should know who is really working for the conduct of the election and who is working underneath to postpone the election. We know it is Ranil Wickramasinghe who is working to sabotage the election. We have a right to know who is underneath. The vote has not been cancelled. Many are trying to say that the election cannot be held because there is a case in the court. The Government Printer stated that since the case is pending on the 23rd, ballot papers cannot be issued until then. Any action can be sued. In that case, the court should give the order to censure the election process (activities taken by the Election Commission to conduct the election) in the case. The agreement given by the court on the 23rd was the same as the agreement given to the Election Commission on the 10th. That is to say that they work for the conduct of the election without any hindrance. The next hearing date is May 11. By that time, the local government election can be properly conducted and completed. The court’s decision has nothing to do with the measures taken to prevent voting. The election commission has assured the court that the election will be held. Therefore, even now, the Election Commission has the power to conduct the election without any hindrance. What is Ranil Wickramasinghe doing? The Election Commission has no money, printers and police. So what should happen? Other institutions should support the Election Commission. It is very clearly mentioned in Article 104 of the Constitution. The Election Commission should be provide with necessary support related to the measures taken to conduct the election by government officials and institutions. Instead of assisting the Election Commission in holding the election, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Government Printer and the Inspector General of Police are obstructing the holding of the election by following Ranil Wickramasinghe’s orders and underhand work. Now, if the Election Commission does not submit to those obstacles, the Commission, according to Article 104, can sue the related institutions for not supporting the orders and measures given by it. They can be jailed for three years. That is the powers given to the Commission. The Commission has been given so many powers because the responsibility of conducting the election has been made the responsibility of the Commission. Despite the obstacles placed to prevent holding the election, the Election Commission is working with great hesitation to take legal action against the obstructing individuals and institutions. It is as if the Commission is also subservient to the subversive actions of Ranil Wickramasinghe. We believe that the Election Commission should do more to protect the democratic rights of the people and the right to vote, rather than acting to shy away from responsibility. Ranil Wickramasinghe’s frenzied nature, which goes against the Constitution, should be defeated. We invite all parties, all organizations and citizens to come forward to defeat it. You must do everything you can to defeat it. As the NPP, we have chosen agitation measures in many districts. we are planning to carry out a large public protest in Colombo on the 26th together with the people against Ranil Wickramasinghe’s frenzied nature, against hiss attempt to overthrow democracy, to defeat Ranil Wickramasinghe’s efforts to overthrow the electoral maps. Also, we have already taken steps to make international human rights organizations and organizations that appreciate democracy aware regarding this situation. We hope to discuss with many other organizations in the future and make them them aware. Also, Sri Lankans abroad are already active in large agitations in front of the embassies of the respective countries. It has been planned to launch a campaign especially in Geneva, where the United Nations is located. Recently, there have been several occasions when the court has given exceptional decisions for people’s rights, human rights and democracy. The NPP has prepared to file several cases to defeat this unconstitutional and anti-democratic process of Ranil Wickramasinghe.We are determined to defeat the anti-democratic measures of Ranil Wickramasinghe and to get elections at the right time. We invite the people who value democracy in our country, who are facing many unpleasant and bitter experiences, to join all public movements to defeat these idiotic and anti-democratic actions of Ranil Wickramasinghe.” 0 Comments

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The post “Is President stupefied? All possible measures will be taken against Ranil’s anti-democratic actions” – Anura Dissanayake appeared first on LankaTruth.