UNP-SLMC scuttling 20A - Nimal

17 June 2015 01:31 pm - 4 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala De Silva today charged that the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) were in a move to scuttle the passage of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution in Parliament and the two political parties issue conflicting and different statements on electoral reforms at different times.

Mr. De Silva said Opposition was determined to increase the new Parliament to 250 or 255 seats despite the UNP's stance not to increase the Parliament's composition beyond 225 seats.

Meanwhile, the draft of the 20th Amendment has been gazetted Tuesday midnight with a 237-seat Parliament under the new electoral reforms, as approved by the Cabinet last Friday.

The Opposition expects to introduce amendments including the increase of the number of seats in Parliament to 255, when the 20th Amendment is debated at the Committee Stage in Parliament.

The Opposition would consult Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya and the Electoral Sub-Committee appointed to draft the Bill, Mr. De Silva said.

The Cabinet of Ministers at the special meeting held on Friday decided to increase the number of seats to 237 with 145 from First Past the Post system, 55 from the National Proportional System and 37 from the National List.

“The UNP, while agreeing to a 237-seat Parliament at the Cabinet expresses its opposition to increase the number of seats from current 225. The SLMC meanwhile demands two ballot papers. Both parties do not want electoral reforms but elections. We are ready for elections at any time, but we must support President Sirisena to fulfil his pledges given at the Presidential Poll. That is why we want the 20th Amendment be passed before dissolution,” he said.(Sadun A. Jayasekara)

Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

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Comments - 4

raj Wednesday, 17 June 2015 07:46 PM

Why do you need to increase

Sikuru Wednesday, 17 June 2015 08:00 PM

Why increase it to 255? Both the SLMC and the UNP has taken the people into consideration stopping at 237

sarath Wednesday, 17 June 2015 09:33 PM

At the moment there are 170 electoral seats and if we to reduce the number of seats there will be some confusion to re-drawing the boundaries of the seats. the reduction of seats by the UNP is to upset the whole effort of changing the proportional system as they thing it is advantages to them. RW is also as cunning as JR

Veda-mama Thursday, 18 June 2015 01:10 PM

ONLY ON RAINY DAYS THE FROGS GO...BAKA...BAKA.... BUT YOU ALL FOR EVER...BAKA...BAKA.... DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE ATLEAST FOR A CHANGE AND WE WILL APPRECIATE.

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UNP-SLMC scuttling 20A - Nimal

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