PM to discuss electoral reforms with party leaders

Wednesday, 24 May 2017 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Prime Minister will be discussing proposed election reforms with party leaders this week and will take their views into consideration.

Explaining the Government’s view on the proposed changes, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said: “The President had recently stated that the elections will be held without delay and the Government took action to achieve this. We printed necessary instructions in February but in the absence of a clear agreement among party leaders over the demarcation of the wards elections got delayed. The relevant reforms needed to be included in acts of municipal councils, urban councils and other local governments. Even though party leaders demand urgent elections, such can take place only with the agreement of all. The Government took all possible action and the party leaders will meet this week to finalise the matter.”

However, UPFA Joint Opposition MP Dinesh Gunawardena said: “Around 15 million people in all provinces are deprived of their right to franchise. They have lost their right to elect around 6,000 representatives to local government bodies. Three months ago the Minister of Local Government assured Parliament that the Government would take necessary action to hold the local government elections without delay. Two years have lapsed since and we are still without elections.”

In response, the Prime Minister explained that there are 50 reforms and amendments that need the party leaders’ agreement. “We cannot proceed without amending the election laws and for that we need the party leaders’ agreement,” he said. AH