MP Shanakiyan presents private member’s Bill to resolve controversy in PC Elections Act

Saturday, 7 June 2025 01:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam

Parliamentarian Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam has presented a private member’s Bill to amend the Provincial Councils Elections Act, No. 2 of 1988 to hold Provincial Council elections.

Rasamanickam in a Twitter message said that his desire to present the new private member Bill was to resolve the long-standing controversy surrounding the Provincial Councils Elections Act.

He added that if it was enacted, it will empower the Election Commission to call for Provincial Council elections.

“The President, Prime Minister, and other Government members have repeatedly affirmed their commitment to holding these elections by late 2025 passage of this bill and honouring its promise to the people,” he has stated.

According to Rasamanickam, it will reset the legal framework to pre-2017 status by reviving the 1988 electoral system (proportional representation), bypass the deadlock caused by the failed attempt to implement the 2017 mixed electoral system which required approval of the Delimitation Commission’s report which was rejected in 2018, remove ambiguity being used as a reason to delay PC elections and enabling the Election Commission to proceed with elections immediately (after the Bill is passed in Parliament).