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PC elections: Polls chief to make final appeal to resolve deadlock
View(s):The Election Commission will make a final appeal to all political parties represented in Parliament to resolve the deadlock in holding Provincial Council elections, Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told the Sunday Times. “This is the final letter that we will be sending to all recognised political parties in this regard,” he said.
Mr. Deshapriya said the political parties could pass an amendment to the Provincial Council Elections Act to conduct the elections under the Proportional Representation system. The amendment needs a two thirds majority in Parliament. “We have been writing to the parties since April this year, but have failed to receive a positive response,” the Election Commission Chairman said.
Explaining the reason for the delay, he said the Review Committee which was appointed by Speaker Karu Jaysuriya during the latter part of August to provide recommendations on the defeated Delimitation report, had met only twice until October 26. He pointed out that the committee had not yet submitted a review report.
Mr. Deshapriya explained that Review Committee was appointed since the Delimitation Report was defeated in Parliament when it was put forward by the then Provincial Councils Minister Faizer Mustapha. The committee comprised Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, R.M.A.L Ratnayake, Periyasamy Muthulingam, Balasundaram Pillai and Dr. A.S.M. Nawfal.
In addition, Mr. Deshapriya emphasised that the Parliament should prioritise this matter only next to the vote on the budget. However, Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of the Peoples Action for Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL), said the delimitation review report did not necessarily have to be passed in Parliament.
“The report can be submitted directly to the President following which the President can take measures to gazette it,” Mr. Hettiarachchi told the Sunday Times. He also said that the provincial elections should be held within the first three months of next year. Commenting on the role played by the commission in urging for periodical elections, Mr. Deshapriya said the EC had done everything possible to conduct the polls as early as possible although certain entities continued to blame the commission and its chairman.
He said six provincial councils had already completed their terms, while another PC’s term would end by March next year.