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Electoral reforms: Cabinet fails to reach agreement

28 May 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Despite last ditch attempts Cabinet, last night, failed once again to reach consensus on the proposed electoral reforms, informed sources said yesterday.

However, the leaders of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), at a separate meeting with President Maitripala Sirisena pledged their cooperation to enact the proposed new electoral system.

Cabinet took the matter up for discussion yesterday . It is learnt that Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem, in particular, was opposed to the proposal to elect 160 MPs from single member constituencies, five from multi-member constituencies, 31 according to the Proportional Representation System and 59 from the National List.

There were heated arguments between him and Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka. Minister Palani Digambaram also joined in the verbal battle.

Finally, Cabinet gave the power to President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to decide on the announcement of the new system in a gazette notification subject to agreement by the constituent parties of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

The President presented a summary of the report on electoral reforms compiled by the Cabinet subcommittee. He said he would ask the UPFA leaders whether they wanted to move ahead with the no confidence motion or enact the electoral reforms as the 20th Amendment.

Accordingly, he met the UPFA leaders soon after the Cabinet meeting. It is learnt that the UPFA leaders were in favour of the criteria proposed by the President. (Kelum Bandara)

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Electoral reforms: Cabinet fails to reach agreement

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