President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has assured that national elections will not be postponed under any circumstances and will be held as scheduled.

Addressing a public rally in Bulathsinhala today (6), President Dissanayake said there was no intention by the government to delay the presidential election and hold a referendum instead.

His remarks came in response to claims by certain opposition groups that the government was preparing to postpone the presidential election and conduct a referendum.

President Dissanayake said a referendum would divide public opinion into two sides, whereas a presidential election would result in the electorate being divided among several competing groups.

He stressed that, given this situation, there was no reason for the government to seek a referendum as a means of postponing an election.

“People with even a basic understanding of politics know that referendums are not introduced to postpone elections,” he said.

The President argued that if a referendum were proposed to delay an election, opposing groups would unite against such a move. However, he said, a presidential election would prevent such groups from forming a common front, as each would be focused on securing the presidency.

He further assured the public that the parliamentary and presidential elections would be held according to the constitutional schedule and urged people not to have any doubts about the government’s intentions.

“We are not afraid of the people. We are coming before the people,” he said.

President Dissanayake also said the provincial council elections would be held as soon as the existing legal impediment to conducting them is removed.