Photo Elmo Fernando

"I ask the president to stop politically motivated victimisation" said former minister S B Dissanayake at a press conference in Colombo.

He said the accusations that he had misappropriated "Samurdhi" funds are fabricated. "Let them bring in the charges against me. I can assure you, I will be exonerated"

UNP spokesman GL Pieris accused the government of trying to postpone the Presidential elections. "Holding elections at the end of a term is the lifeblood and the heart of democracy" said the former minister.

Secretary of the UNP, Tissa Attanayake assured the media that they will protest against any attempts to postpone the presidential elections.

"If the president tries to remain in power after illegally after December 2005, we will launch a local and an International protest campaign against such a move." He said.

Earlier announcements by the Presidential office had suggested that the president can remain in power until 2006, due to a second swearing in ceremony giving her the power to remain full term.

The last presidential election was held one year before the end of her first term in office.