Snap general elections need of the hour: Prelate

• Says Prime Minister should resign 

By Ajithlal Shanthaudaya and Dapane Jayantha Nanayakkara 

Calling for a snap general election before March next year, Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said it was evident by election results that sovereignty was interlinked with Sinhala Buddhist thoughts and as such a snap general election was the need of the hour to form a stable government.  

Addressing the media at Embilipitiya  Bodhiraja Temple, the Thera said the cooperation of all parties was needed to realise political thought of newly-elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. 

“We welcome the resignations of government ministers and we feel Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe should also follow this precedent. He should resign and make way for the President to appoint a premier and Cabinet of ministers. When Maithripala Sirisena assumed presidency in 2015, we witnessed how his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa allowed a Prime Minister of his choice to be appointed. This example should be followed now. Otherwise, it can lead to a political conflict. 

As the Prime Minister and President failed to act in unison, dastardly terrorist attacks took place on Easter Sunday. Therefore, it is not prudent to wait till March next year to dissolve Parliament and appoint a new Constitutional Council.  With the issuance of election results, the profile of Sinhala Buddhist sovereignty emerged clearly. The masses reiterated that Sinhala and Buddhist concepts could not be obliterated,” the Thera said.