Laws to halt election violence before budget

Nadira Gunatilleke

Arrangements will be made to introduce amendments to the Local Government Elections Act before the next Budget (November this year) if possible, to put an end to election-related violence, Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department Auditorium yesterday,

Minister Rambukwella said amendments were proposed to the Act after the first reading. All possible steps will be taken to complete the work in this connection before the budget. If it is not possible, arrangements will be made to do so as soon as the budget debate ends.

According to Minister Rambukwella, introducing amendments to the present preferential vote system is very important to minimize election related violence between politicians and their supporters. The government wishes to make positive changes to the existing system as soon as possible, he added.