Committee to effect electoral reforms in favour of old 'first past the post system'

RAFIK JALALDEEN

The Government recommending the First Past the Post System to the electoral system has appointed a committee under Urban and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardana to effect electoral reforms in favour of the old first past the post system.

Export Development and Internal Trade Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris told the media yesterday Minister Dinesh Gunawardana will chair a committee that would bring changes to the existing PR system.

"The reforms were approved by all political parties and the public too are aware of the need for changes in the present electoral system," he said.

Minister Peiris noted that the present voting system had many flaws and brought the worst in human nature within the political parties themselves. "It was found that the preferential vote system has many negative aspects that impact negatively on the public as well as political parties themselves. There is no direct link between the public and elected member of the party. Thus, the system should be changed for the favour of the public," he said.

Initially a balance between both the First Past the Post system and the Preferential voting system should be implemented at the Pradeshiya Sabha and Urban Council elections.

"During the Pradeshiya Sabha and Urban Council elections the new electoral system balancing 70 per cent of the First Past the Post and 30 per cent of the Preferential voting systems will be implemented," Minister Peiris said.

He observed that to implement the new electoral system in the Local Government and the Parliament, a two thirds majority should be obtained in Parliament. "The committee is making progress to recommend the new voting system," he added.