Parliamentary Select Committee to make recommendations to amend electoral system

COLOMBO: The motion to appoint the Parliamentary Select Committee to make recommendations to amend the electoral system will also be tabled in Parliament on April 5.

Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena asserted that the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) would look into revising the electoral system applicable to general elections as well as local government elections.

The committee plan as proposed at the party leaders’ meeting in Parliament on Thursday.

Responding to a query made by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP and Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, Foreign Minister Gunawardena said that all these are commissioned as a part of fulfilling the election pledges by this Government which were mandated by the people at the Presidential election and the General Election.

MP Kiriella said that the drafting of a new Constitution has been vested on several attorneys while amending the electoral system has been vested upon a Parliamentary Select Committee and he asked to bring both these under one Parliamentary Select Committee.

Minister Gunawardena said that this procedure has been approved at the Party Leaders’ Meeting in the Parliament on Thursday.

He added that it is the general practice to appoint such Select Committees which have been done by all governments. These tasks are not done hastily but according to the proper procedure.

Any MP and the public could contribute their views.MP Kiriella further said that the Provincial Council Election would be delayed at least by one year with this measure.

Responding to him Minister Gunawardena said that the elections were delayed due to a Supreme Court Order and measures are being taken to resolve the matter.

The motion to appoint the Parliamentary Select Committee to make recommendations to amend the electoral system will also be tabled in Parliament on April 5.