Electoral system amendment a ruse to delay polls - Sumanthiran

by Amani Nilar 29-10-2022 | 8:35 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st) - TNA Parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran believes that the proposal calling for the appointment of a select committee on amending the electoral system is another attempt to delay elections.

The TNA MP said that the Minister of Justice has directed a letter requesting for the establishment of yet another Parliamentary Select Committee, as a previous Parliamentary Select Committee appointed for the same has already given its report.

"This is being done as a ruse to postpone the election. Provincial Council elections have been put off for several years," the MP said.

He further stated that although a private member's bill was filed, the Parliament was dissolved, thereby invalidating it.

The Government is also taking steps to put off the Local Government elections, the TNA MP said, emphasizing that they must be held forthwith.

Moreover, MP Sumanthiran said that the current Parliament should also be dissolved and an election must be held immediately.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reform Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC has requested the Speaker of Parliament to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee to amend the electoral system.

The letter to the speaker contains 15 individual points on amending the electoral system.

Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe proposes to appoint a Special Parliamentary Committee to investigate and report on a suitable election system for the election of public representatives to the Parliament, Provincial Councils and Local Government Bodies of Sri Lanka, and to make suitable recommendations for the same.

The letter also noted that the speaker should hold the position of the chairman of the committee, and the speaker should also nominate members to the committee.

It is stated in the letter sent to the Speaker by President's Counsel Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe that it is appropriate to consider proposing a suitable system for the Local Government Election as a priority task and report on the matter within two weeks