SLPP ready to contest future elections- MP Abeygunawardena

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena said that a presidential election must be held according to the constitution of this country.

He said that the SLPP will participate in the upcoming elections and it is not a matter of winning or losing, but it is mandatory to conduct the elections democratically.

Abeygunawardena stated this while attending the media conference held yesterday (25) at the SLPP party headquarters in Colombo.

“On November 13, President Ranil Wickremesinghe will present the budget proposal for the year 2024 to the Parliament. The SLPP is observing these budget proposals carefully. With that budget proposal, we are paying close attention to providing any kind of relief for the people who are going through very hard times in the country,” he added.

He further said that people are very upset about the increase in the electricity tariff. Not only is the general public but even the country’s economy is also affected. It is a must to think of small-scale industrialists, large-scale industrialists and especially self-employed people. The electricity bill of that group has gone up by a higher percentage. “This is a very dangerous situation,” he added.

Also, the increase of the electricity bill has become a big problem for the entire community. The Government should look at some other methods for reducing the electricity bill. After presenting this budget proposal, SLPP hopes to discuss it with the President and Cabinet.

“If we do all the things in accordance with the IMF regulations, the people of the country will be half dead by the time we finally get the IMF loan. Finally, if and when we receive the IMF loan, half of the people would be dead. Then it would be useless obtaining such a loan. Therefore, we are clearly saying that as a government, give relief to the people in this budget,” he stressed.

He added that it feels good that the salaries of public servants are increasing. It would be very good if the salaries of government employees increase too. But if anyone thinks that this salary increase alone is the answer, they are mistaken, but there should be a way to reduce the price of the essential goods. Considering of course the revenue collection for the country, he added.

In order to strengthen the economy, you have to think more about the tourism sector, he added.

“We have to work to improve things like tourism, the export sector, and the agriculture sector. Also, 2024 is an election year after this budget. A presidential election must be held according to the constitution of this country. Also, the postponed local government elections will have to be held.

The human rights of the candidates, who handed over nominations for the election, have been violated by postponing the election. Then we ask the government to cancel these nominations if these elections are not held,” he further said. He said that as the SLPP, they are ready to contest those elections. Elections should be held democratically. The party is telling the government very clearly to give the opportunity to the people to elect the government and the president as they wish,” he said.

He added that the government and the SLPP are two parts.

“The SLPP is a party for the government. But we are not the government itself. If the government does a good job, we will support it. But if we do something wrong, we don’t expect to approve it,” he pointed out.

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