Electoral changes implemented in 1978 placed restrictions on voters - Minister Wiswa Warnapala

"The electoral changes implemented in 1978 with the introduction of Presidential System of Government placed restrictions on the voters to elect the best choice to represent their grievances said, new Parliament Affairs Minister Vishwa Warnapala after assuming duties at his Ministry.

"The Westminster type of Government existed in our country since 1948, was drastically changed into a Presidential type of Government in 1978 against the advice of constitutional specialists such as Dr. N.M. Perera. This ill-advised mechanism has given detrimental effects for the smooth functioning of parliamentary system of Government, he said.

The Minister added that the Anglo-Saxon Parliamentary System worked smoothly for 30 long years it surprised many western observers. The denial of by-elections is also anti-democratic. Really, it can be considered as a disenfranchisement of the voters. In a democracy, the citizens must have a voice in the choice of their representatives, he said.

As the Parliamentary Affairs Minister I intend to ignite sweeping changes to improve the Parliament's quality and status.

As a first step, MPs' debating skills will be enhanced through training programmes and workshops with the assistance of Inter-Parliamentary Union. Reading habits among MPs will be encouraged by supplying literature on parliamentary affairs and procedures. There are number of democratic countries in the world willing to help us in this exercise and it is our paramount duty to make use of this assistance to give a value added experience to our Parliamentarians, the Minister declared.

"We must inject a flourishing intellectual life to Parliament, the Professor said. Fisheries Minister Milroy Fernando said President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has taken a correct decision by offering the parliamentary affairs portfolio to a learned Professor of political science. He expressed confidence that the new Minister will take steps to raise the status of Parliament.

Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Additional Secretary M.M. Mendis and several other VIPs attended the function.