Sri Lanka ‘needs legislation to control election campaign expenditure’
COLOMBO: Minister Dinesh Gunawardena stated that 10 proposals have been submitted to the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to identify appropriate reforms of the election laws and the electoral system at a committee meeting held at the Parliament premises.
The deadline for political parties to submit proposals expires on July 15, Gunawardena who is also leader of the House in Parliament.
The secretary to the committee, chief of staff and deputy secretary general of parliament Kushani Rohanadheera stated that the committee has received 138 proposals so far.
Peoples Action For Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) told the select committee that it is appropriate for Sri Lanka to have a mixed electoral system that includes First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system and Proportional Representation (PR).
PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi proposed at Wednesday’s meeting chaired by the Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, to increase the number of electoral districts from 22 to 40, taking into account geographical factors, population and other diversity.
Explaining the need for a advance voting system, PAFFREL stated in the Committee that it is essential that every voter be given the right to vote.
PAFFREL also addressed the Committee on Limiting candidate expenses, holding presidential and general elections on the same day, implementing an election calendar, identifying and updating loopholes in the electoral process and existing electoral law, preventing misappropriation of state power and state property, updating fines and election law, ensuring the right to information of all voters, the laws on advertising and ensuring adequate women representation.
The executive director stated at length on the declaration of assets and liabilities of candidates as well as the selection of candidates from the national list, the protection of the independence of the Election Commission and the method of registration of political parties.
However, former chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya said that it was not practical to hold the Presidential and General Elections on the same day. In his view, only the parliamentary and provincial council elections could be held on the same day, he added.
Deshapriya pointed out that legislation should be enacted soon to control election campaign expenditure.
Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, State Minister Jeevan Thondaman, MPS Anura Dissanayake, Kabir Hashim, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, M. A Sumanthiran, Mano Ganeshan, Madura Vithanage and Sagara Kariyawasam , officials from the Election Commission and the attorney general’s Department were also present.