Prez election deceitful, violates people’s wish: TNA

 Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan is reported to have told a European Union delegation yesterday that holding another presidential election was deceitful and against the verdict of the people.

The EU delegation comprising Riccardo Chelleri, (Policy Officer Democracy and Electoral Observation) and Anne Vaugier Chatterjee (Deputy Head, Political, Trade, and Communications Section) were among those who met him in Colombo.  

Mr. Sampanthan said the matter to be decided at this juncture is whether to participate in this process which is against the verdict of the people and the other was whether it was a legitimate exercise.   

The TNA said Mr. Sampanthan highlighted the fact that ever since 1994 the Sri Lankan people had repeatedly voted for the abolition of the executive presidency and pointed out that at the 2015 presidential election, more than  90% supported the call for a new constitution.   

“A resolution was unanimously adopted in Parliament and much work had been done to frame a new Constitution but now all those efforts had gone awry. There were several proposals submitted in this regard but none of them were fulfilled. Currently the country needs a new constitution and not a presidential election,” Mr. Sampanthan said. 

The matter to be decided at this juncture is whether to participate in  this process which is against the verdict of the people and the other  was whether it was a legitimate exercise