Opposition parties to extend joint effort to secure provincial councils

By Yohan Perera   

A senior opposition figure announced yesterday that all opposition parties are preparing to launch a joint effort to secure control of the provincial councils, while also calling on the government to hold long-delayed elections without further postponement.   
Speaking at a media briefing, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara emphasized the importance of unity among opposition parties in future provincial council elections.   
“All opposition parties will come together at the right time to do the right thing. We are confident that we can secure control of the provincial councils if elections are held,” he said.   
He urged the government to proceed with the elections without delay. “We understand that elections cannot currently be held under the mixed electoral system. However, it is possible to conduct them under the proportional representation system by passing a resolution in Parliament. We therefore urge the government to take the necessary steps to make this happen.”   
Madduma Bandara also stressed that provincial council elections have historically served as turning points leading to national political shifts. “The 1993 provincial council elections led to a change of government the following year. Similarly, the 2014 Uva Provincial Council election was a precursor to the 2015 government change,” he recalled.   
The MP expressed concern that the government may be deliberately delaying the elections out of fear of potential defeat.