Don’t waste time if not interested in holding PC polls: Opposition parties tell government

Colombo, May 11 (Daily Mirror) - Three opposition political parties, namely the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Illangei Tamil Arasu Kachchi (IATAK) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) today told the government not to waste time with the select committee appointed to look into amending the Provincial Election laws if it is not interested in holding the elections.

The idea was expressed by SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madumma Bandara, SLMC General Secretary Nizam Karipappar and IATAK Parliamentary Group Leader Shanakiyan Rasamanickam during a briefing held at the Opposition Leader’s office today.

Maddumma Bandara said the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led government seemed to be going back to its original stance of opposing the Provincial Councils and thereby avoiding holding of the elections.

“The Government should come up with a definite stand without wasting time with the select committee,” MP Rasamanickam said.

MP Karippar said the opposition was hoping that the select committee would come up with some report on May 22, 2026 as it is supposed to come up with a report within three months. He recalled that the select committee was appointed in March this year.

Asked whether the opposition had been inspired by the victory of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Chandrasekaran Joseph Vijay, Madduma Bandara said they were not. 

“However, it seems that devolution of power is being successfully implemented in India while it is not implemented in Sri Lanka,” he said.