Election monitors call for swift debate on Delimitation Committee report

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The People's Action for Free & Fair Elections (PAFFREL) issuing a letter to the Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya, inquired as to why there is a delay to present the Delimitation Committee report for the Provincial Council Elections. The Delimitation Committee was officially appointed by the President on the 4th of October last year. The Committee was Chaired by Former Surveyor General K. Thavalingam and included Anila Dias Bandaranayake, A.M. Hisbulla, G.M. Siriwardena and S.K. Sandiram. The Committee convened from the 14th of October and gathered opinions from all 25 districts, following which a report was compiled and was presented to the Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government. Whilst the Parliament was due to debate the report on the 21st of March, the debate was postponed to the 19th of April. Due to Parliment being prorogued the debate was once again postponed. Although the special adjournment motion debate on the Provincial Council Elections was held on the 5th of this month, dates were not set for the debate on the Delimitation Committee report. Commenting on the matter Executive Director of the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections, Keerthi Thennakoon said the Delimitation Committee report must be immediately forwarded to Parliament for approval.