Electoral Reforms: Political parties reach unanimity

Ravi Ladduwahetty

In a resounding victory and a landmark in the annals of independent Sri Lanka’s chequered political landscape, for the first time, all major political parties represented in Parliament and the 32- member Parliamentary Select Committee has reached unanimity for the need for change in the electoral system which has been hitherto the bane of the political economic and social fabric of this thrice blessed nation.

Here, in a wide ranging interview, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna Leader, Chief Government Whip and Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Dinesh Gunawardena with the Daily News he spells out the sweeping reforms which are aimed at political stability and clean polls.

Q: When did the reforms process begin and what are the main highlights ?

A: The proposed electoral reforms began during the tenure of the United National Front Government of 2001-2003 where I was appointed as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms.

The first Committee which had 21 members later was increased to 29 and now stands at 32 under the present Parliament. This committee has represented to Parliament the core issues of the Interim Report that the last Committee submitted to Parliament in 2002.

The reforms entailed the Amendments to the Elections Act which will also enable Parliament to have 140 Members elected on the First Past the Post System and a another 70 MPs from the District Proportional Representation system.

The total is now 210 and the remaining 15 will be from the National PR which will enable minority parties and those who would not have been elected to Parliament to be elected and have an opportunity to serve their masses. Unanimity has been reached in principle but the bone of contention is the percentages and the numbers.

Q: Will there be a re-demarcation of electoral boundaries ?

A: It has been proposed that the electoral boundaries be re-demarcated through a Delimitation Commission as the number of registered voters has been increased in certain areas; while there have been reductions in the other areas.

There are for instance, 130,000 voters in the Kaduwela electorate, a substantial increase while there has been a remarkable reduction in the Colombo West and Colombo East.

There are also proposals to have multi-member Constituencies, for instance like the system of yore where UNP’s slain Presidential Candidate Gamini Dissanayake was the first MP for Nuwara Eliya/ Maskeliya, former Speaker and Minister Anura Bandaranaike as the second MP and founder Ceylon Workers Congress Leader Saumyamoorthi Thondaman as the third MP for the same electorate. The Attorney General has also recommended that the Commission should be perpetual and that that the appropriate amendments be done to Article 95 and 99 to the Constitution.

Q: Will you bring in Electronic Voting ?

A: There is also an amendment to the Presidential/ Parliamentary/ Provincial Councils Acts to enable electronic voting which will drastically slash the costs of holding elections. This will mean that the voters will vote electronically akin to the system now in place in India and Bangladesh.

The system will be tamper proof which will also mean that in the event of some individual tampering it, the system will get locked.

It will also require an official to unlock the system for resetting and recommencement of the voting.

This will also drastically reduce the number of election returning officers who are mandated for election duty. This will enable the release of the results by one hour after a Local government poll and three hours for the Parliamentary polls and will be a slighter delay by the time the Elections Commissioner announces the District PR after the appropriate mathematical calculations.

A machine will cost around Rs. 15,000- Rs. 20,000 and there will be a demand for around 10,000 such machines. The Elections Commissioner’s staff will take around a year to be trained and this system will be well in place by the time of the next Parliamentary poll billed for 2010 and the Presidential polls for 2011.

Q: There was much talk recently regarding the recognition / de-recognition of political parties. Can you explain this proposal ?

A: This will mean that the recognition of political parties which are now represented in Parliament and which are not will remain the same till the next polls. There is a new Bill which will be effective soon which will mean that there will be political parties both at national level and provincial levels.

The minimum criteria for a political party to stay in power at national level will be to have a minimum of one MP in the House and for Provincial Parties to have a minimum of 5% of the votes polled within the Province.

Otherwise they will be eliminated. The reason for this being that there are 54 registered political parties of which only 23 are active.

Q: There is an allegation that the number of women in politics is very low. How do you plan to rectify this ?

A: There is a mandatory provision in the reforms for the inclusion of women which will be at all levels, be they Local Government bodies, Provincial or Parliamentary

 polls.

The proposals also ensure the return of the ward system of yore which is the collection of two or three Grama Sevaka divisions which will also bring the communities and the public together in the development of the grassroots where there will be participatory mechanisms for both budgeting and development.

The final touches to the amendments to the draft Bill are being placed now and the legalities also are under scrutiny.

Q: Will we see by-elections again ?

A: It has also been proposed that by elections be held like in the past in the event of a resignation and / or death of a member. Nevertheless, the by election should not affect District PR of the District. Any vacancy should be filled by the election of a MP from the respective political party who has polled the next highest percentage.

However, the replacement of a National List MP can be filled by the recommendation of the Party’s General Secretary.

Q: How will the FPP system benefit prospective candidates ?

A: The return of the FPP will also facilitate Members to restrict themselves to the their electorates which will drastically slash their areas of jurisdiction where the canvassing is also easier and far less expensive than operating on the entire span of the district which will make them susceptible to corruption.

This will also be no need for budding MPs to be financed by businessmen and underworld communities who will be waiting in earnest for their rates of return when their Members are elected to power. They will truly be independent.

It is also heartening and redeeming that all the political parties in the House have agreed on principle on this proposal barring the TNA which has said that they will not agree on anything until the main issue - the national question is over.

There is also an opinion to reconsider the abolition of the Executive Presidency. However, obvious as they are, both these issues are beyond the mandate of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms.