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Sri Lankan PM says gov't hopes to hold parliamentary elections in July

Xinhua, May 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickermesinghe has said that the government expects to hold a parliamentary election in July.

Local media reported on Monday that the ruling United National Party (UNP) which is led by Wickremesinghe has been calling for the parliament to be dissolved soon stating that the present parliament does not have a mandate to continue further.

While no specific date has been fixed for the parliamentary election, the UNP has said the present government which was sworn to power following the victory of Maithripala Sirisena at the Jan. 8 presidential elections, was given a mandate to be in power for only 100 days since then and not beyond that.

Wickremesinghe said that the government now hopes to hold the elections in July.

Wickremesinghe also said that the power of the Sri Lankan parliament had been strengthened by the passing of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution which include reducing the powers of the executive presidency.

"When the international community considers a country as a highly developed democracy, political stability will prevail. Then more foreign investors will start business ventures in such a country," Wickremasinghe said.

Therefore, he stressed that there is a pressing need to further empower democratic rule and eradicate corruption. Endi