Vote for new electoral system in January

21 December 2011 01:21 am

The two legislations which provide for the introduction of a new electoral system for the local government bodies will be put to a vote on January 17, 2012 when Parliament meets for the first time in the New Year.

According to the party leaders’ meeting, the Local Authorities (Special Provisions) Bill and the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Bill will be taken up by the government. 

The two bills seek to introduce a mix of the Proportional Representation System and the First-Past the Post System for the election of members to local bodies. Already, the government has debated these bills with the opposition and referred them to the committee stage of Parliament.

On January 18, the House will take up the order under the Mutual Assistance Criminal Act. The Justice Minister will impose this order. The government will discuss the Board of Investment (Amendment) Bill, the Tax Appeal Commission (Amendment) Bill and two orders under the Sri Lanka Export Act on January 19.

The debate on the Employees Provident Fund will take place on January 20. (Kelum Bandara)