Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) propaganda secretary, Vijitha Herath says the President’s recent announcement that he intends to reduce the number of council members for local government bodies from 8000 to 4000 is nothing but yet another delay tactic. 

“The number of council members was increased to 8000 during the Ranil - Maithripala regime. The same Ranil Wickremesinghe is now claiming these numbers must be reduced in an attempt to delay the local government elections further,” he said. 

According to Herath, the President has made this announcement at a time the elections have been delayed for yet another year using the powers of the relevant minister and while Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had assured parliament elections would be held in a timely manner.

“We demand the government to immediately stop the undemocratic postponement of the election. The people are requesting a parliamentary election as well. But the government is attempting to delay that too by claiming the problematic proportional representation system must be changed prior to that” Herath said.  

Herath said the JVP along with other civil society groups will force the government to hold elections in a timely manner to ensure the people’s sovereignty. “We will not allow Ranil Wickremesinghe to suppress the democratic rights of the people,” he said.