July 13, Colombo: Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) is doubtful that the government would hold Northern Provincial Council elections in 2013.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake says there were doubts over the statement made by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa that Northern Provincial Council elections would be held in September 2013.

He has observed that it was unclear why the government wanted to wait till September 2013 to hold Northern Provincial Council elections after holding the presidential and general elections covering the entire country.

He has noted that the government was trying to buy time without addressing the ethnic issue and finding a political solution.

According to Attanayake, there was no reason for the government not to hold Northern Provincial Council elections without delaying further.

The President told an Indian daily The Hindu that the main problems would be the 30-year old voter register and the ongoing resettlement and rehabilitation process.