Select committee to come up with electoral reforms Opposition MPs appointed to the committee to boycott?

Government seems to be avoiding the provincial council election as it is scared of losing the poll. We will decide soon as to whether we should remain in the select committee 

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Opposition Members appointed to review and make recommendations on laws pertaining to elections, except for laws pertaining to the Provincial Council elections are planning to boycott the committee, it was hinted yesterday.  

Opposition MP Nizam Kariapper told a media briefing in Parliament that the opposition is considering a boycott as the government seems to have adopted a sinister plan to avoid the holding of the provincial council election.  

 “Government seems to be avoiding the provincial council election as it is scared of losing the poll. We will decide soon as to whether we should remain in the select committee,” he said.  

Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne on Tuesday announced the appointment of a committee tasked to review laws pertaining to elections except the Provincial Council elections, and make proposals and recommendations.  

Accordingly, Minister Upali Pannilage, Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffer, Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala, MP Ravi Karunanayake, MP J.C. Alawathuwala, MP Harshana Rajakaruna, MP Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan, MP Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, MP Thushari Jayasinghe, MP Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran and MP Chandima Hettiarachchi will function as the members of the committee.