Sri Lanka leaders debate time for elections

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s controversial announcement that he has no plans to dissolve parliament anytime soon has found an unlikely champion in former president and Wickremesinghe’s one-time adversary Maithiripala Sirisena.

Speaking at an event, Sirisena said delaying the election by two years will give his Sri Lanka Freedom Party some much needed time to regroup and organise.

The former head of state made the remark with what appeared to be a straight face, though it is possible he was speaking with his tongue at least partially lodged in his cheek.

“The president told parliament recently that parliament won’t be dissolved till its term has ended. That is good for small parties like ours. It will allow us to organise this party well,” said Sirisena at the SLFP event held in Colombo.

“It will take over two years for a parliamentary election to come. So I, too, like Mr Wickremesinghe’s statement because, though we may have political differences, it has given us the time to strengthen our party,” he said.