Opposition MP Udaya Gammanpila says that the President Ranil Wickremesinghe cannot call for Presidential Election this year as claimed by some Government MPs.
“State Minister Sisira Jayakody has stated that the Government will hold the presidential election in November this year. This is a baseless lie. According to Article 31(3A)(a) of the Constitution, the President can declare a presidential election after completion of first four years of his first term, if he intends to contest. However, the President who is not elected by the people does not have this opportunity according to Sub-article (e) of the same article” MP said
Although President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had this opportunity, President Ranil Wickremasinghe doesn’t have the opportunity to declare a presidential election this year, MP Gammanpila claimed.
“Why does the Government deceive the public about a presidential election? The ordinary people are angry with the Government because of unbearable cost of living. Similarly, the Middle Class is angry with the Government because of unbearable tax burden. An election is the best opportunity for the people to express their anger peacefully. People are now agitated because of postponement of the local authority election. Hence, the Government is in an attempt to calm down the public by deceiving them with a hope of the grand election, the presidential election” MP added.
Central Bank has printed Rs 113.5 Billion in a day
‘When the Government postponed the local authority election stating that they have no money to spend for elections, we suggested to print money for holding the election. The Government’s immediate response was that they could not print money because of the Staff level agreement with the IMF. However, the Government has printed currency notes worth Rs 113.5 billion on a single day, ie 15th March. According to the Press Release issued by the Central Bank, it has purchased Treasury Bills for Rs 113.5 billion. When the Central Bank purchases Government securities, new currency nots will be added to circulation. That is called “money printing”.
If the Government can print currency worth Rs 113.5 billion in a day, how can they say that they can’t print money worth of Rs 9 billion for holding elections?
Interestingly, according to the media release, the Central Bank holds government securities worth Rs 2,640 billion. It was only Rs 1,773 billion when the present Central Bank Governor assumed office. It means he has printed staggering Rs 867 billion worth currency notes. Meanwhile, they tell us they are not in a position to print Rs 9 billion for the election.” MP Gammanpila questioned (NewsWire)
