The next Presidential Election will definitely be announced before the end of this year.

There is a possibility of having the Parliamentary election also together with the Presidential Election, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardhane told a press conference at the Media Ministry yesterday.

“The President has powers under the Constitution to decide within his Presidential time frame when to have the next Presidential Election,” the Minister said.

The Minister also said the United Nation’s High Commissioner’s office for IDPs has agreed to the Government request for US $ 3 million to increase the level of efficiency of the de-mining process which is going on in the Northern province.

Double elections seem in the offing following a government statement that the possibility of holding both Presidential and General Elections on the same day in one fell swoop is being considered. The announcement came as the UNP promised a “fresh political twist” with new parties tipped to join the common opposition alliance.

Addressing a media briefing Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena noted that such an option was being considered by the government and was being actively discussed by the executive committee of the ruling party. He also maintained that the final decision would be announced at the SLFP annual convention which will be held on November 15.  (Read More)

Speaking to the media at the massive protest walk and rally held in Colombo this evening, the General Secretary of the JVP, Tilwyn Silva said they would certainly defeat government if it holds presidential elections next year.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has no right to hold a presidential election since he promised to abolish the executive presidency within his first term, he added.

The JVP leaders threatened the government that this protest would be the first step in the process to defeat the government and promised to continue it until the decision of holding the presidential election is removed.

Meanwhile, in response Sri Lanka government today stressed that they have to be responsible only for the people in the country and not for the JVP.

Speaking to the press the Media Minister Laxman Yapa Abeywardena said the countrymen still have not asked to abolish the executive presidency.

The UNP’s Western Provincial Councillor Ajith C. Perera said, at a news conference in Colombo, that the government was not setting up the Police, Public Service, Elections, Judicial Service, Bribery and Corruption and Media Commissions, because in such an environment it can violate the laws of the country with impunity.

"We have been repeatedly calling for the constitution of the Constitutional Council and the Independent Commissions, but it has turned a deaf ear for nearly four years, he said. "There is no reason for any postponement, because all political parties have agreed on the nominees to the Constitutional Council. We are now left with only one option and that is to get onto the streets."

Perera said that the deteriorating law and order situation and unsolved crimes,including the killing of journalists, was directly attributable to the absence of independent Police and Public Service Commissions

Responding to The Island queries, Dissanayake said that a Supreme Court ruling given during the tenure of President Rajapaksa’s predecessor, Chandrika Kumaratunga said that the incumbent president could not retain the remaining period in the event of his/her winning a second term at a premature election.

Asked to explain, he said that if an incumbent president lost his bid for a second term at an early election, he would automatically forfeit the remaining period won at the previous poll. In keeping with this, an incumbent president winning a second term could not be entitled to anything more than six years, he said.

He expressed confidence that the judiciary would ensure transparency and prevent any party from manipulating the system.

The mass defection had been organised by the SLFP Organiser for Patahewaheta Central Provincial Council Member Mahinda Abeykoon.

Minister Rambukwella said there was no future for the United National Party. The UNP would continue to face many more defeats at elections including the parliamentary and presidential polls to be held in a few months time, Minister Rambukwella said.

The first protest will be held in Colombo tomorrow.

A protest march would be held from the Campbell Park, Borella and to the Lipton Circus, General Secretary of the party Tilvin Silva told The Island yesterday.

He said that the JVP trade unions, other civil organizations and pressure groups including farmers’, bhikkhus’ and students’ unions would attend the protest rally to be addressed by all JVP leaders. (DE

The police said the opposition leader of the Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha, Rifal Mohammed Farook and three of his friends have allegedly shot dead two rare deer in the mountain reserve this morning.

All the suspects were remanded until 5th of November after they were produced in the courts.

Police have seized the guns which used for the hunting by the four suspects