Tensions flared in a contentious parliamentary session today as Lakshman Kiriella, a Member of Parliament representing the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), leveled accusations against the government, suggesting plans to postpone the upcoming Presidential Election.
Mr. Kiriella asserted that the absence of any mention of the Presidential Election in the President's Government Policy statement has raised red flags and sparked suspicions of underlying intentions within the ruling administration.
In his address to the Parliament, Mr. Kiriella elaborated on the alleged strategy, pointing to discussions surrounding the potential abolition of the executive presidency. He contended that proposals to dismantle this institution could serve as a pretext for postponing the Presidential Election, as such a move would necessitate the drafting and ratification of a new Constitution—a process that could extend over a considerable timeframe, potentially spanning at least a year.
