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Ward-based electoral system for local authorities recommended
View(s):The final report of the National Delimitation Committee on local government councils has recommended an increase in the number of elected members to the councils by 595. According to the final report the number of members to be elected under a ward-based system will increase to 5,081. An increased of 595 members.
Under the new system, LG members will be elected under the first-past-the post system (FPP) to 4,573 wards, while two members each will be selected to 241 wards. There will also be nine wards where three members each will be elected. The Committee’s final report was handed over to Public Administration Minister Karu Jayasuriya by Committee Chairman Jayalath Dissanayake last week.
J. Dadallage, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government said the NDC report would be submitted to President Maithripala Sirisena next week and a gazette notification would follow shortly. “The next local council elections will be held on the basis of this report which enables the voters to elect candidates through the FPP system and takes into consideration the concentration and density of ethnic population in a particular ward,” he added.
Before the report was finalised Minister Jayasuiya had a discussion with the Delimitation Committee to re-review issues regarding the demarcation of national wards and district wards. “There will be no new councils setup, despite there being demands for the same, particularly the Eastern Province. We are not going to set up new councils, but there will be an increase in the number of councillors to the existing ones,” Mr Dadallage said.
He added that a code of conduct for members elected to local authorities would also be introduced after Cabinet approval is granted. ” This is in response to a demand by the public and would ensure a system of checks and balances as well as ensuring the people have the right to question the representatives whom they have elected” he said.
