REFUGEE

The President said in speech at the SLFP national convention on Sunday (15) that there was time to announce whether the Presidential or general election would be held first in the country. In the run up to the convention, the President, SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena and other senior government members said the announcement of whether it would be a Presidential or general election would be made at the convention.

The convention that commenced at 5 p.m. at the Kettarama Grounds ended at 7.45 p.m.
The President during his speech asked the SLFPers if they wanted the Presidential or

general election first. He asked those in support of holding a Presidential election first to raise their hands. Everyone raised their hands claiming the first election to be held should be the Presidential election.

After asking the SLFP membership if they wanted a Presidential election two years earlier, the President said the party leadership would make the final decision.

A senior official from the party headquarters told Lanka News Web that according to the SLFP constitution, neither the political committee nor the central committee has the right to amend any decisions arrived at the national convention.

Therefore, the approval by all SLFP members at the convention to hold a Presidential election first would now compel the President call for the Presidential election first, the official said.

However, Lanka News Web informed on November 11th that the President would not announce if the Presidential or general election would be held first at the SLFP national convention