Amid pressure from the international community and due to his inability to address the issues relating to economic crisis, the former President had to call for an election, President Maithripala Sirisena says.
The observation was made while speaking at the 70th Convention of the United National Party held in Borella this afternoon (10).
“The election was called following refusal from the Cabinet of Ministers and the UPFA,” the President added.
President Sirisena also went on to say he is optimistic that the coalition Government of the UNP and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) would be able to restore the freedom and the democracy.
He also vowed that there will be no room for family rule and corruption in future, however steps will be taken to re-establish harmony and mutual confidence.
The President also urged the media not to mislead the public through misinformation regarding the proposed new Constitution.
“The new constitution is for all Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims,” he said.
“Over the last 70 years we have not been able to build that Sri Lankan identity,” he said.
“We are still trying to achieve reconciliation based on communal harmony,” he added.
