No election until 2009, says Jeyaraj

Irangika Range

COLOMBO: The Government will not conduct any election until 2009 when the Provincial Council Election is scheduled to be held, Chief Government Whip and Highways and Road Development Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said.

He was speaking after laying the foundation stone to construct the Vocational Training Institute in Kaludiyavalawatta, Katana on Tuesday. The Minister said General Elections are held every six years and one will be held only after April 2, 2010.

The UPFA Government’s political agenda has been accepted by the masses and the Government will be in power for another six or seven years, he said.

The Minister invited all parties to unite for the sake of the country setting aside political differences.

The Government has been able to shatter the LTTE’s Eelam dream 50 per cent by liberating the East. The Government is following real war strategies under the correct leadership of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Fernandopulle said.

He said the Government’s main intention was to provide vocational training to the youth to enable them to enter the international job market.

“There is a big demand for skilled personnel abroad,” he said.

“The proposed vocational training institute would focus on meeting this requirement. Over 400 Sri Lankans trained in various vocational and technical fields at the Vocational Training Institutes attached to the Ministry qualify for foreign jobs each year. This will also bring in more foreign exchange to the country,” the Minster said.