The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said that the only solution to the current political stalemate is to go for a snap general election to restore stability in the country.
JVP trade union leader and politburo member K.D. Lalkantha told the Sunday Observer that holding general elections early is the only solution for the current political crisis.
“The current situation can only be rectified by a general election alone,” he said, echoing the views of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) who have also been calling for an immediate general election.
However, explaining the party’s contradictory move to go to court last week, against the gazettes dissolving Parliament and calling for a general election in early 2019, Lalkantha said the JVP was not agreeable to the manner in which the decision was taken.
“Prior to taking any decision or step, proper procedures must be followed,” he said, adding that the JVP believes that a two-third majority should have been obtained to dissolve Parliament and go for a general election.“We agree that a general election must be held, but it must be done according to accepted procedures,” Lalkantha said.
With the party’s recent moves, earning flak for being possible United National Party (UNP) sympathisers, Lalkantha said, “The JVP’s recent actions may appear to be helping the UNP to set up a government. However, the JVP is not in any way agreeable to the UNP’s attempts to protect the Premiership of Ranil Wickremesinghe and continue with a UNP government. Therefore, only a general election can protect the Constitution and law while bringing an end to the traitorous UNP government,” he said.