Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said that the Presidential Election will definitely be held this year and Rs.10 billion has been allocated from the Budget for the purpose.
The Minister said that according to the Constitution, it is mandatory to hold the Presidential Election this year and the dates for the election have been announced by the Election Commission (EC). Accordingly, the EC has announced that the election will have to be held in September-October this year.
Minister Dr. Gunawardena said that there will be no dissolution of Parliament at this time and such false statements are being made by politically bankrupt persons and political parties and that the term of office of the President will not be extended by a referendum or other means as some politicians claim.
It is the President’s intention to hold elections in a democratic manner and the President has said that elections will be held in due time, the Minister added.
President Wickremesinghe recently told the Cabinet of Ministers that the Presidential Election will be held first, denying reports that a General Election could be held first after Parliament is dissolved.
While the President has not announced his candidacy yet, there are moves to propose his name as a national or common candidate, in recognition of his efforts for the country’s recovery following the economic collapse of 2022. Several other parties have already named their Presidential candidates.
All political parties have launched preliminary campaigns throughout the country aimed at the Presidential Election. The last Presidential Election was held in 2019 just before the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. A General Election is not due until 2025, when the current Parliament’s term ends.
