According to Minister Rajitha Senaratne, a special cabinet meeting has been called on Friday June 12 to reach a final decision on the draft of the proposed 20th Amendment to the constitution.

A dialogue on the amendment to the constitution to change the electoral system, arose once again, after the Prime Minister submitted a proposal at the previous cabinet meeting.

The SLFP, UNP and several other factions, have submitted proposals with a consensus on the basic premise that the preferential voting system should be abolished through the proposed 20th Amendment.

While a proposal was put forward to elect 255 representatives under a mixed electoral system, the Prime Minister’s proposal notes that the current number of 225 should be maintained. The proposal for 255 seats in parliament, notes that 165 MP’s will be elected on the electorate system.

The Prime Minister’s proposal reduces this number to 125.

Speaking on the matter, the JHU General Secretary Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka noted that both systems will not cause injustice to any of the parties represented in parliament and raised the question – if the number of electorates in the country can be reduced to 125.

Furthermore, General Secretary of the JVP, Tilvin Silva noted that the proportional representation system will be protected and the preferential voting system will be abolished. He also noted that the lack of MPs accountable for their electorates was considered, and that it was decided to include that factor as well in a new electoral system.

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