Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva today suggested conducting the local government and general elections in March next year.
Opening the second reading debate on the budget, Dr. de Silva said Sri Lanka should follow the US pattern where the elections for the congress and the senate are conducted on the same day.
“Elections Commission Chairman told us that funds have been allocated for the local government elections. It will be possible to hold the general election as well on the same day without spending a single cent. We can follow the US system where the polls for the senate and the congress take place on the same day,” he said.
“You will get the opportunity to dissolve Parliament in March next year and go for an election. Therefore lets create a new Parliament,” he told President Wickremesinghe who was present in the chambers at that time,” the MP said.
“You did well when it comes to economic liberalization, but where is political liberalization? Around 40% of the Sri Lankan population is languishing below poverty line according to experts in the University of Peradeniya. The three-month interest rates for treasury bills had arisen to 33%. It has almost become a pyramid scheme. A country cannot run in this manner,” he added. (Daily Mirror)