Govt. to expedite granting voting rights to Sri Lankan citizens overseas: Nalinda

By Ajith Siriwardana  

The government is looking to expedite the process of enacting laws to grant voting rights to Sri Lankan citizens overseas as promised by the National People’s Power (NPP) in the elections, Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday.   

He told the weekly briefing to announce Cabinet decisions that the NPP gave an election pledge in the Presidential and General Elections that Sri Lankans overseas will be given voting rights.   

The Minister said Bimal Rathnayake and Sunil Handunnetti played an active role in the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed in 2015 to look into the matter.   

He said this while responding to a question regarding the Cabinet proposals to appoint a committee to study the particulars relevant to amending the laws and formulating new laws to safeguard the voting rights of Sri Lankan citizens overseas.   

The Minister said the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government to take action to appoint a committee to study particulars relevant to amending the laws and formulating new laws to safeguard the voting rights of Sri Lankan citizens overseas.   

He said the Committee will comprise officials from the Elections Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government as well as from the other Ministries and institutions.   

According to the Cabinet Paper, as per Article 3 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the sovereignty rights reserved with people is used in an election as per the provisions of the 4th Constitution.