Provincial election may be further delayed, hints Rajitha

Hinting at a further delay in holding Provincial Council elections, Cabinet Co-Spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne yesterday said that polls could be held in January only under the new mixed system which has been opposed by majority of parties.

“We can hold elections in January if the recommendations by the commission to assess the delimitation report is given in two months. But if we are to go back to old system then a new act has to be passed in Parliament. This can only be done when the Parliament reconvenes in January after the Budget debate is over in December,” he said.

When asked, the Minister said that the elections would be pushed further back if the Government was to hold elections under the old system as nominations could only be called after the new act to revert to the old system is passed in Parliament. 

“I am against the new system. The 50:50 system doesn’t give due place to people’s choice. It paves the way for lackeys of party leaders to be given seats in the Provincial Council without running for elections. The members should be elected by the people,” Senaratne said. 

He also said that a system where 80% is elected was best suited for the Provincial Councils.