Debate on Provincial Council election on 6 July

• Minority parties object to conducting PC elections under new electoral system, prefer old preferential voting system
• Party leaders agree to hold adjournment debate over SL-Singapore FTA on 18 July

By Skandha Gunasekara

A difference of opinions arose on the method of conducting the next Provincial Council (PC) elections during yesterday’s party leaders meeting held at the parliament complex yesterday.

According to parliament sources, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Faiszer Musthapha had told the party leaders meeting that President Sirisena had opined that the next PC elections must be held under the new electoral system.

However, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, City Planning and Water Supply Minister Rauff Hakeem had objected to this proposal, asserting that minority parties preferred the old electoral system with preferential voting, sources revealed.

Accordingly, it was agreed upon at the meeting that a debate would be held on 6 July to decide on whether the next PC election would be held under the old system or the new method - a mixture of the First-past-the-post system and Proportional Representation system.

Additionally, the Joint Opposition had also sought an adjournment debate on the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.

The request was made by Joint Opposition parliamentary group leader Dinesh Gunawardena and the party leaders agreed hold a debate on the Free Trade Agreement on 18 July.