Cabinet agrees on 20A

08 Jun 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cabinet, at a special session today, decided to draft legislation by Friday, to implement electoral reforms as the 20th Amendment to the Constitution.

Though it had been proposed to increase the number of MPs to 255, Cabinet finally decided to maintain the number at 225 as at present, as insisted upon by the United National Party (UNP).

Cabinet instructed the Elections Commissioner and the Legal Draftsman to formulate the new legislation and submit it to President Maithripala Sirisena by Friday. Both the officials were present during yesterday's meeting.

The UNP had throughout been opposed to any increase in the number of MPs. Ultimately the entire Cabinet had accepted the UNP proposal.

The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP), an Opposition party, had also opposed any increase.

It is now proposed to elect 125 MPs from the constituencies, 75 according to the Proportional Representation System by district, and the remaining 25 from the National List, under the new system. (Kelum Bandara)

Breaking News

Cabinet agrees on 20A

Most Popular Articles

More arrests of lawyers, politicians and senior police officers

Former National Lotteries Board Chairperson Shyamila Perera arrested

Girl visited her lover, gang raped by lover and his friends

Updated World Test Championship standings after West Indies’ record win over Sri Lanka

Historic locomotive move between Kandy and Peradeniya without tracks

Country loses US $ 1 billion in fraudulent transactions, certain banks involved

Latest News

Google hit with £3.5bn fine following 8-year battle

Ponnambalam-led TNPA meets Tamil Nadu CM Vijay, submits demands

Bus crashes into ravine, killing at least 40 in Pakistan

Wasantha Karannagoda granted bail

Rakitha, Charith and Aruna further remanded