President Mahinda Rajapaksa firmly believes in the peoples' mandate and the voters' franchise rights, and has no intention to be in power beyond the period mandated by the ballot, asserted the Minister of Mass Media, Information and Enterprise Development, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa yesterday, June 21.

Even though the President was requested by some sections within the government to continue in office without holding a Presidential Election, he strongly upholds and places his faith in the system of democratic governance and norms. Therefore, President would decide on re-election at the appropriate time, in keeping with the Constitution.

The President will call a presidential election after November 19, 2009 or after completing his first term in office in 2011, the Minister added.