20A to be amended to hold polls by next year: PM

4 September 2017 10:07 am - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The government will hold elections to the nine provincial councils before the end of 2018 by re-wording the 20th Amendment which was rejected by several provincial councils, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

He said this during a function at Malkaduwawa in the Kurunegala District on Saturday.

“We are ready to introduce a fresh clause to the 20th Amendment to the Constitution compelling the government to hold the provincial council elections before the end of next year,” the Prime Minister said. “The 20A was prepared to ensure that elections to the nine PCs will be held under the mixed electoral system on a single day prior to the end of 2018."

He said government would introduce legislation shortly to appoint another delimitation commission to demarcate the constituencies at the provincial level and that there would be wards at local government level and constituencies at provincial and national level by 2020.

The Prime Minister assured all stakeholders that PC elections before the end of 2018 and that the govern would not postpone elections indefinitely.

He said the LG elections will be an experimental exercise 60 per cent of the representatives elected under the first-past-the-post system and 40 per cent under the proportional representation system.

“It is essential to have a mixed electoral system so that there would be representatives to each constituency while the smaller parties will be represented as well. Constituencies are essential as myself and others such as late Lionel Jayatilake who represented this area came into Parliament in 1977 from a constituency,” the Prime Minister said.(Yohan Perera)

Pics by Pradeep Pathirana

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Comments - 8

Dr. A.C.B. Jayaweera Monday, 04 September 2017 12:28 PM

Sir, honestly I say - no need of an election, its a waste of money, rather than that feed the people and bring down the Cost of Living.

L. P. Mendis Monday, 04 September 2017 12:30 PM

People are not concerned about elections right now, all what they want is the culprits of the previous regime should be kept behind bars, do that Sir.

Aladeniya Kirimathaya Monday, 04 September 2017 12:34 PM

Rajapakshe is going to come with the "Flower bud" symbol, but his face looks like a "Dry fish", what do you say?

chandra Monday, 04 September 2017 12:37 PM

Dont hold election. Will have a referendum what we had in 1982. via DM Android App

George Bastian Monday, 04 September 2017 05:02 PM

As long as Yahapalanaya rules for another 10 years, no need elections.

Citizen Monday, 04 September 2017 02:23 PM

When you know you are going to lose badly what else can you do???

I. O. Sirisena Monday, 04 September 2017 05:04 PM

Good show Hon. Prime Minister, keep it up and work plans which is suitable for Yahapalanaya along with Hon. President.

Buniya Monday, 04 September 2017 05:39 PM

The fact is the both the UNP and the SLFP are corrupt and if you ask me I will hang all to death.

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20A to be amended to hold polls by next year: PM

Comments - 8

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