The opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) says there is a clear split in the ruling UPFA over the snap Presidential elections scheduled for next year.
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena had also written to the President urging him to reconsider moves to hold a Presidential election next January.
Dissanayake said that Sirisena feels the Government should first make constitutional changes as promised to the people before going for an election.
The JVP leader also noted that the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a member of the UPFA alliance, is also not happy with moves to hold an election next year with JHU Parliamentarian Athuraliye Rathana Thero warning the President against such a move.
Dissanayake says it is clear that only President Mahinda Rajapaksa, his family and close friends are determined to hold the election in January.
He says the main focus now should be not who will contest the election from the opposition but if this election should be allowed to be held since it is illegal.
Source: Colombo Gazette (Sri Lanka)
