Chief Opposition Whip, JVP Leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the results of the recently concluded local government elections could not be considered a referendum.
“Some try to interpret this election results as a referendum. If anyone does so, then there is no clear-cut victor in this referendum, for none had polled more than 50 percent. The incumbent Government provided safe heaven to fraudsters and thieves. The Government acted in a manner against the mandate it received. The Prime Minister protected one set of thieves while the President protected another set of thieves. The Government failed to punish thieves and murderers. The Government delayed investigations. Therefore the people responded and voted to defeat them,” Dissanayake said during the parliamentary debate on the current political situation in the country.
According to Dissanayake, the results of the local government polls have also indicated that both Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena should not consider contesting for the President’s seat again.
“Neither would be able to muster the forces which brought them to power at the 08 January 2015 election,” he said.