JVP Fully Supports Amendments To PC Elections: Says Elections Were No Different To a Mega Teledrama During Rajapaksa Era 

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday said it fully supported the move to amend the Provincial Councils Elections Act and hold all PC elections on the same day. 

"The Provincial Council election system in Sri Lanka is bizarre. We always stressed the need for amending the system. It was on this basis that we supported the legislation to amend the PC elections Act,"  JVP MP Bimal Ratnaike said, addressing a press conference at the JVP headquarters, in Pelawatte, Battaramulla. 

"During the Rajapaksa era, Provincial Council elections were no different from a mega teledrama. PC elections held on a staggered basis and each election went in tandem with military operations. All state resources channeled into one province when elections were being held. We were of the strong view that this should be changed," he added. 

He said there were five PC elections within two years after the end of war. 

"The government can afford to face five elections in two years. But the opposition finds it hard. This tilted the playing field in favour of the government."

The JVP Parliamentarian said some Provincial Councils were dissolved prematurely to hold early elections. 

"after coming to power in Germany, Hitler too held elections in a similar manner," Ratnaike explained. 

Ratnaike said the JVP, while voting in favour of the amendment, presented a plan to the government to hold the Local Government election, without any further delay.