PAFFREL against early elections

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 December 2005, 17:10 GMT]
Amidst reports that the Sri Lanka government is considering to have parliamentary election or local government elections in March next year, the People's Action for Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL), a leading election monitoring organization, has urged President Mahinda Rajapakse to defer elections by another three months from March until the irregularities in the 2004 voters' register are rectified, sources said.

Mr.Kingsley Rodrigo, Head of the PAFFREL said holding any elections till the irregularities in the voters' list of 2004 are addressed would deprive franchise to thousands of eligible voters whose names are deleted from current voters' register. The postponement of these elections till the middle of the next year would help to eliminate irregularities, sources said.

The government is reported to be considering seriously holding elections to local authorities through out the island on March 28. However some authoritative sources in the government say that President has given serious consideration to dissolve the parliament and to hold a general election in March to ensure majority for his party, Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP).

Meanwhile, PAFFREL has decided to write to the President, Commissioner of Elections and the Minister of Local Government requesting them against holding any elections, sources said.