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Minority parties to hold discussions on electoral process with Govt.

19 Apr 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}      

Minority Parties which met today to discuss electoral reforms had decided to form a joint committee to work with the government in designing a new electoral process.

The parties which met today (19) in Colombo comprised the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Communist Party (CP), Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), Democratic Left Front (DLF), Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Democratic People’s Front (DPF), National Union of Workers, All Ceylon People’s Congress (ACPC), Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), National Congress, Democratic National Front (DNF) and the Muslim and Tamil Alliance.

According to sources the committee will comprise representatives of all these political parties.

These parties had decided that electoral reforms should not be rushed and the next election should be held under the existing system as voters should be educated about a new system before it could be put into action.

The committee, once appointed, should meet President Maithirpala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as soon as possible to discuss the new electoral system.

MPs Vijitha Herath represented the JVP, Venerable Athureliye Ratana Thera represented the JHU, DEW Gunasekera (CP), Professor Tissa Vitharana (LSSP), Vasudeva Nanayakkara (DLF), M A Sumanthiran, (TNA), Minister Rauff Hakeem (SLMC), Muttu Sivalingam (CWC), Mano Ganesan (DPF), Minister Degambaram (NUW), Minister Rishad Bathiudeen (ACPC), Douglas Devananda (EPDP) and A.L.M Athaullah (NC). In addition N Kumaraguruparan represented DNF while former Deputy Mayor of Colombo Asath Sally also participated in the meeting.