Democratic Party leader Sarath Fonseka said today the common candidate should not be limited to its title but he or she should come forward from the aspirations of the people.

“Anyone can nominate a common candidate but if he is to be accepted by the people, he should come from the aspirations of the people. He should not be just a for the namesake,” Mr. Fonseka said.

When asked whether he was ready to support a common candidate nominated from the opposition, Mr. Fonseka said his party would support such a candidate, only if he was prepared to serve the needs of the people with a clear objective.

“We cannot get together on short term objectives. We built up this force under difficult conditions. And we do not have personal gains to achieve. If we are to reach an agreement, it should be solely based on developing the wellbeing of the people,” Mr. Fonseka told a news conference.

Commenting on the attack on a candidate of his party in the Wellawaya electorate, Mr. Fonseka said the government had launched its election campaign with a wrong example highlighting its corrupt and wrong political culture.

Mr. Fonseka said his party had informed the election commissioner verbally and in writing about the incident and said he must be able to provide the candidates with security to carry on with their election campaign freely.

“If the election commissioner cannot provide security to the candidates, it is pointless of having such an officer. If he is not performing his duties properly, he should leave the post and go home without drawing a salary from peoples’ money. The election commissioner has vested in powers to hold a free and fair election but he is not implementing them. He can annul election results, if it is revealed that the election is not free and fair. What more powers are needed to ensure a free and fair election? It is pointless even if he is vested with more powers as he is not using his existing powers,” he said. (Ajith Siriwardana)

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