Consensus yet to be reached among Govt allies on new election law

The enactment of a new piece of legislation for conducting early elections to the Provincial Councils still hangs in the balance since the allies of the ruling party are yet to reach consensus on the provisions of it, Daily Mirror learns.

The Cabinet approvals has been secured to enact the new piece of legislation providing for the conduct of the elections to the Provincial Councils under a new system – a mix of proportional representation( 30 percent) and the First Past the Post System(70 percent).

However, the alliance partners such as the National Freedom Front and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) are opposed to the provision to be included in the proposed Bill to field three candidates for an electorate by each party. The matter came up for discussion at Monday’s Cabinet meeting. The ruling party allies once again expressed their objection to this clause. The parties aligned with the government believe it as a move to prevent its members from getting elected at the Provincial Council elections.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, thereafter asked to call for a meeting of the party leaders on April 19 to discuss and take a final decision in this regard.

According to informed sources, it will take time at least till December to conduct the elections under the present circumstances, it is said.(Kelum Bandara)