Dinesh opines transform to mixed electoral system

• It is essential to extend such a system to Parliament

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana 

Commitment of all political parties are needed for a quick change over to a mixed electoral system, Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardene told Parliament yesterday.    

Speaking during an adjournment debate in the House yesterday, he said it was the government’s belief that there should be an electoral system under which a majority of MPs should be elected under the first-past-the-post system and the rest on proportional representation system. “We have already implemented a mix electoral system when it comes to local bodies. It is essential to extend such a system to Parliament” he said.   

Also he said the present Election Commission has earned criticism because of one of its member referred certain matters to the judiciary without the consent of other members.