Elections Commissioner calls for change of electoral system

Manjula FERNANDO

COLOMBO: Elections Commissioner Dayananada Dissanayake said yesterday that the existing Local Bodies Ordinance has no provisions to call for a re-poll if malpractices are reported in any polling station.

Hosting a press conference at the Elections Secretariat yesterday, the Commissioner said under the present ordinance he cannot either call for a re-poll or annul any result if polling is reported to have been marred by violence or malpractices, which was a grave shortcoming in the present electoral set up. The Election to select members for 261 local bodies out of the total 330 will be held on March 30.

"There is no provision for a re-poll as well as provisions for the displaced to cast their vote."

"This situation should clearly change," responding to media queries the Commissioner said.

Underlining the need for immediate revision in the electoral system Dissanayake stressed the mix of the earlier system, first-past-the- post and the current Proportional Representation should be the ideal basis for a new electoral structure.