Need mixed electoral system with single, proportional representation – People’s United Front
Posted on September 6th, 2021
Courtesy Adaderana
The People’s United Front today (06) testifying before the Select Committee of Parliament to Identify Appropriate Reforms of the Election Laws and the Electoral System and to Recommend Necessary Amendments pointed out that the country needs a mixed electoral system with single and proportional representation.
The number of seats in Parliament should be 225 as at present, out of which 140 should be elected on a divisional basis, 70 on a district basis and the remaining 15 from the national list, said State Minister and the assistant secretary to the party Sisira Jayakody.
He added that the new amendments should take into account the current presidential election system, where the whole country is considered as one constituency or the electing of a President by the vote of the Members of Parliament.
The front also pointed out that the possibility of holding by-elections according to the requirement should also be explored.
Deputy Secretary of the People’s United Front, Member of Parliament Yadamini Gunawardena stated that the time and date of the elections should be determined by law without the influence of the political authorities. He added that legal provisions should be put in place to prevent advertising in state and private print media, electronic media, and social media that could harm the equality of candidates.
The Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) testified before the committee that the security of all communities should be ensured during the new electoral reforms. 65 percent of the members should be under the single-member system and 35 percent under the proportional system, the party further emphasized at the committee.
The Deshavimukthi Janatha Party stated in the committee that the country basically wants a divisional system. He said the new amendments should ensure the political representation of minority parties. They also emphasized the need to hold Parliamentary, Provincial Council, and Local Government elections under a common system.
Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Douglas Devananda, M.U. M. Ali Sabry, Hon. Members of Parliament Mano Ganeshan, Madhura Withanage and Sagara Kariyawasam were present at this meeting held. Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Senior Professor Sudantha Liyanage was also present at the committee meeting held.
The next meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee is scheduled to be held on Tuesday (07), said the Secretary to the Select Committee, Deputy Secretary General & Chief of Staff of Parliament Ms. Kushani Rohanadheera.
September 6th, 2021 at 5:08 pm
The most important reform is to prevent uneducated, crooks and thugs getting into the parliament. As long as these unpatriotic undesirables are in the parliament the country will not develop, only their wealth and power will increase. The best way to prevent those wealth and power seeking crooks contesting is to bring some minimum educational standards for the candidates and remove all those perks like luxury vehicles, body guards etc. Some powerful veterans in the parliament will not like these measures as they depend on these goons to be in power. It is obvious who controls the government now.
September 7th, 2021 at 1:38 am
Agreed with Sarath W.
Why not simply follow what Mr. Lee Quan Yu did in Singapore?
This is not rocket science.
Regarding the governance, apart from the electoral system, we thought Gota will look after the country from TOP level. If he did so, he could have rectified most of the administrative problems by directing the relevant people, because he could see everything as a bird in the sky.
Instead, he took the role of an action man on the ground. It limited his full and overall visibility of the situation and even today, he is struggling in the darkness. He lost his self confidence. When he is in the dark without a clear view of ground realities, he has to rely on the information provided to him and actions proposed by the likes of P.B. Jayasundara and Path finder agents who are playing the game to their own masters agenda, to destroy SL.
We have more intelligent young men and women who can do these jobs well with love to the country.
If Gota wants to correct the course, he can still do without further delay by simply following the work done by great Lee Quan Yu.
Otherwise, the country will lose the greatest opportunity created by the rogue Yahapalana rule to correct the course of the country in the right direction, after 70 years of independence.
If he doesn’t correct it, he will be responsible for spoiling this great opportunity and will be recorded in the history for this current pathetic approach.
Covid has nothing to do with these types of shortcomings. Imran has done a great job in Pakistan so far. I am doubtful if we are that lucky as a country.