No poll before electoral reforms-Nimal

16 March 2015 01:05 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 12 Bookmark

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The main opposition UPFA today reiterated that there would be no Parliamentary Elections before introducing Constitutional and Electoral reforms and it would not let Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to force President Maithripala Sirisena’s hand to dissolve Parliament soon after April 23 as he had already announced.

Leader of the Opposition, Nimal Sirisipala De Silva told a hastily called press conference at his office that the constituent partners of the UPFA took the decision to introduce Constitutional and Electoral reforms in one go and not to go for an election after a lengthy discussion with President Sirisena last morning.

Asked whether President Sirisena was agreeable to their stance, he said ‘We are confident that he would agree as those arrangements are included in his 100-day programme. What we want is these two legislative arrangements to be passed in Parliament in one go and not piecemeal.”
“The demands to abolish the executive Presidency or at-least to prune its draconian powers and also to introduce a mixed electoral system have been floating among politicians, political parties, professionals, media and among the public for several decades but no government was able to go ahead with this vital reforms.

“Therefore, this is the last opportunity to do this as all political parties in Parliament, including the UNP, are in agreement to do this as early as possible.

“This exercise will not be difficult as the UPFA with 139 members in Parliament are fully supportive for the reforms,” Mr. De Silva stressed. (Sandun A Jayasekera)

Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Comments - 12

Aba Jayasekera Monday, 16 March 2015 06:52 PM

Absolutely correct. RW has no right to creep in as a "Back Door" President. He must face elections on the First Past the Post basis before getting Presidential Powers.

14 21

dilip Monday, 16 March 2015 07:12 PM

Very good move.All political parties are dragging this because most of them are thinking of them selves but not the country.

7 21

CK Monday, 16 March 2015 07:24 PM

Please take 3-6 months and implement the mixed system with a ceiling (FPP with PR for gap filling) per district or provincial basis. No harm for any party. 125 seats for the first-pass-the-post, 75 seats for the proportional allocation and 25 for the national list. A ceiling (upper limit) should be set before the proportional allocation of 75 seats. Upper limit is the number of seats according the total votes for each party in the district or the province. e. g. who gets 60% votes in the Galle district is entitled for 6 seats out of total 10. If they have already taken 5 seats from the first-pass-the-post allocation, they will get only the gap of 1 more seats. This will secure a small party who gets 10% to have 1 seat.

8 14

Sri Lankan Monday, 16 March 2015 08:07 PM

Does he want to POLE VAULT?

2 9

Hubert Monday, 16 March 2015 08:39 PM

for gods sake vanish !

6 9

Prem Nath Monday, 16 March 2015 11:16 PM

Molten Lava waiting to erupt.

0 0

Desmond Jeromme Tuesday, 17 March 2015 08:34 AM

Nimal is joining the PM and playing games together. He is blocking MR to come into politics again.

4 11

Horri Jimonis Tuesday, 17 March 2015 08:36 AM

Hope Nimal having black coffee with RW everyday and discuss matters.

4 5

Hubert Tuesday, 17 March 2015 12:10 PM

where were all these useless fellows before January 8th now they enjouy Democracy

0 0

Upali Tuesday, 17 March 2015 01:08 PM

Very pertinent question is why you all are in the opposition having a majority in the parliament and working under a minority party Prime minister? and a president elected by a different party? We can not understand.

0 2

BV Tuesday, 17 March 2015 02:53 PM

WELL DONE NIMAL.THE GOVERMENT IS CRAWLING IN IMPLIMENTING THE PRESIDENTS PROMISES.MAKE THEM WORK IF THEY WANT AN ELECTION. via DM Android App

1 0

T Wickramaratna Tuesday, 17 March 2015 04:16 PM

So under yahapalanaya dissolving parliament has also become a joke.

0 2

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