JHU on UNF’s presidential hopeful: Select candidate through secret ballot

• Proposes secret ballot by 106 members representing Govt. including minority party members, 77 UNP MPs

By Ajith Siriwardana 

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said yesterday the presidential candidate of the United National Front (UNF) should be selected without any delay and through a secret ballot by its parliamentary group. 

JHU General Secretary and Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka told a news conference that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa were proposed to run for presidency and that one of them should be nominated through a secret ballot by 106 members representing the government including members of minority parties and 77 UNP MPs. 

He said the UNP was given time to nominate its presidential candidate through an internal procedure but it was getting delayed and that further delays would be unjust on the part of the UNF supporters. 

“The UNF was able to come to an agreement on its Constitution on August 24. The UNP was asked to nominate its presidential candidate and inform it to constituent parties by the end of August, but to no avail. It is more democratic to select the candidate through a secret ballot by the parliamentary group in the government. 

They have been elected from the people’s mandate. People should respect the decision and support the selected candidate without pulling his leg. The Elections Commission has the authority to announce the presidential election between September 15 and October 3. The President should be elected before December 8,” he said.