Sumanthiran Condemns Proposal to Postpone Elections(Video)

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) MP M.A. Sumanthiran PC, strongly criticized the proposal put forward by UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara to postpone both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections by two years.

In response to Bandara’s statement, Sumanthiran expressed grave concerns, stating that such a move would violate the sovereign right of franchise and undermine democratic freedoms. He emphasized that Provincial Council (PC) Elections have not been held for more than five years. Furthermore, Sumanthiran highlighted the postponement of Local Government (LG) Polls, citing lame excuses from the government regarding funding shortages, which now leads to indefinite postponement.

Sumanthiran argued that Parliament lost its mandate two years ago with the ‘Aragalaya’ that forced former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down, resulting in a new President without a mandate for the balanced term of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He asserted that current President Ranil Wickremesinghe lacks a mandate from the people, and any attempt to further postpone elections would lead to widespread protests.

In a stern warning to the government, Sumanthiran cautioned that such actions would be the final nail in the coffin for the democracy of the country. He urged the government to heed the warnings and avoid dismantling the democratic institutions of the country. Sumanthiran said that the government should expect people’s movements and protests if it proceeds with any steps to undermine the democratic fabric of the nation.