Presidential and General Elections on same day – Media Minister
The Government is now examining the possibility to conduct the presidential and general elections on the same day, Minister of Media, Lakshman Yapa Abewardena .announced at a media conference held in Colombo today (27). Addressing media personel gathered at the Media Center for National Development located at the Ministry of Mass Media and Information at Polhengoda, Minister Abewardena noted that at the annual SLFP convention due on November 15 an official announcement to this effect was likely to be made after a party decision.
The Government will definitely hold the elections on schedule and the presidential election will be definitely held, asserted Minister Abewardena.
In response to a query by a journalist as to whether the Elections Department was ready to hold both election on the same day, Media Minister Abewardena said the announcement of elections were a responsibility of the Government and the conduct of elections was a mandatory obligation of the Elections Department.
He recalled that even during the recent period of a fear psychosis, the Elections Department executed its responsibility in a national manner and the Elections Department was quite capable of handling both elections on the same day.
He was optimistic that both national elections to be held the same day without any complication or hindrance.
