Parties submit proposals on PC electoral system, Tamil parties push for old system and reforms after polls

By The Pulseline News Desk

The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to examine and recommend an electoral system for Provincial Council elections has begun gathering proposals from political parties, as efforts continue to determine the framework under which the long-delayed elections will be conducted.

The committee, chaired by Minister Vijitha Herath, recently met with representatives of several political parties in Parliament to obtain their views on the electoral system that should be adopted and possible recommendations for reform.

Representatives of the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), the Eros Democratic Front and the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) had presented their respective party proposals during the meeting. K. Premachandran had represented the EPRLF, Ramasamy Rajendran had represented the Eros Democratic Front, while Shanmuganathan Sanjeevan had appeared on behalf of the EPDP.

Tamil political parties have continuously pushed for the holding of the delayed Provincial Council elections and have also decided to launch a campaign starting from the North and East Provinces demanding polls for the provinces. They have also discussed recently the need for the Government to clear the existing legal obstacles, hold the Provincial Council elections under the old electoral system and to then make a fresh move for electoral reforms for future provincial polls.

In addition to the choice of electoral system, discussions have focused on measures to ensure adequate representation of women and young people in Provincial Councils.

The committee is tasked with examining the available options and making recommendations on an appropriate electoral framework, an issue that has remained central to discussions on restoring the elected Provincial Council system.

The absence of elected Provincial Councils has left provincial administration operating without elected representatives for several years, making the question of holding fresh elections a continuing political and institutional concern.

Deputy Ministers Munir Mulaffer, Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala and Arun Hemachandra also participated in the meeting. Select Committee members and MPs Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Samanmali Gunasinghe and Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi were also present.

The committee is expected to continue consultations with political parties and other stakeholders before formulating its recommendations on the electoral system.