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Minority parties push for PR system in future elections
View(s):Both Tamil and Muslim minority political parties in the country have decided to work together on electoral reforms, and collectively decided to demand Proportional Representation (PR) system in the upcoming elections.
Politicians representing the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Tamil National Peoples’ Front (TNPF), All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) took part in a formal meeting held yesterday at Hotel Marino Beach.
All minority political parties decided on a common stand of demanding the PR system in the upcoming Provincial and Parliamentary polls. They are of the view that any other mixed electoral system would be detrimental to adequate representation of minority communities in the country. Leader of TPA, Mano Ganesan played a key role in organising the meeting.
The meeting came in the wake of a recent government announcement that a new Constitution with electoral reforms would be placed before the public by next year.
Addressing the 72nd Army Day Anniversary celebration at Anuradhapura, Saliyapura Gajaba Regiment’s Regimental Headquarters early this month, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa reiterated the government position while pointing out that it was the peoples’ mandate as it was included in his election manifesto.
A Parliament Select Committee was appointed with the mandate to identify appropriate reforms to election laws, electoral system and to recommend necessary amendments. The Committee is currently hearing representations from political parties and the public.