Sri Lanka main opposition ready for next presidential election

Although several political parties in Sri Lanka have agreed to extend President Mahinda Rajapaksa's term for another six years without an election, the main opposition United National Party has decided to contest the presidential election.

Issuing a special statement UNP parliamentarian Laxman Kiriella, also the Deputy General Secretary of the party said that the party is ready to face any election in the future.

Kiriella said the presidential election or any other election ought to be conducted in accordance with the Constitution and the party will be fielding a candidate to prevent anyone being elected uncontested.

However, the MP Kiriella hinted of a new candidate for the party indicating that the party leader, Ranil Wickremasinghe may not be the presidential candidate of the party.

It was earlier reported that several parliamentarians in the UNP including its rebel group have decided to support the proposal made by some political parties to extend President Mahinda Rajapaksa's term for another six years without an election.

According to the normal schedule, the next presidential election is to be held in 2011, but some strongmen of the ruling party at several occasions have hinted that the presidential election would be held after this November.