Ministerial committee appointed to draft electoral reforms bill

The Cabinet of Ministers yesterday discussed the proposed electoral reforms and appointed a committee comprising five ministers to identify the principles laid down by each party in this respect prior to drafting the bill on the subject, informed sources said.

Initially, President Maitripala Sirisena had submitted a concept paper to be studied by all the parties. In response, the political parties had presented their proposals to be considered by Cabinet at the meeting.

Ministers S.B. Dissanayake and Patali Champika Ranawaka had insisted that the bill should be drafted and announced in the gazette notification yesterday itself.  However Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Minister Rauff Hakeem had been opposed to this and spoken against it.

Afterwards, a committee had been appointed to study the proposals of each party for the identification of the basic principles laid down by them for a change in the present electoral system.  

The committee comprises Mr. Ranawaka, Higher Education Minister Sarath Amunugama, Plantations Minister Lakshman Kiriella, Mr. Hakeem and Estate Infrastructure Development Minister Palani Digambaram. (Kelum Bandara)