Baseless argument about third term:

JVP ploy to shun contesting Presidential poll

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa said that the JVP’s argument that President Mahinda Rajapaksa cannot contest a third term is a ploy adopted to avoid contesting the Presidential election.

Soon after the Uva Provincial Council elections, the JVP made a big hue and cry that the Government was to postpone the Presidential election. Now the JVP is trying to concoct another baseless legal argument that the President cannot contest the third term, the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

Minister Weerawansa said that the JVP had been shifting its position right along. Their latest gimmick is to wash their hands by shunning to contest the Presidential elections and permit Ranil Wickremesinghe to exploit its vote base at the Presidential election.

Rather than harping on these baseless legal arguments, they should say something in the interest of the country’s future.

“If the JVP and the UNP feel they could defeat President Rajapaksa at the next Presidential election they should contest the Presidential election and show their strength without engaging in complex legal arguments.

President J.R. Jayewardene held a referendum and a District Development Council election which the SLFP boycotted for no valid reasons. But the JVP contested that election. Did anybody criticise the JVP for contesting that election ?” he asked. The Minister said that the Provincial Council system was introduced as a result of the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord. The SLFP and the JVP boycotted the Provincial Councils as the Indo-Lanka Accord and the 13th Constitutional Amendment were regarded as illegal. However, the Provincial Council elections were held and with the passage of time, the SLFP and the JVP reversed their position and contested the Provincial Council election.

The JVP’s argument is also similar. These arguments are put forward to while away the time. The JVP thought that it could secure four seats in Uva as well. Before the Uva PC election, the JVP said that it would contest the Presidential election. Now the JVP has changed its stand and shuns to contest the Presidential election or boycott it.