23 September 2020 11:36 pm Views - 841
The commitment of all political parties are needed for a quick change over to a mixed electoral system, Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardene told Parliament today.
Speaking during an adjournment debate in the House yesterday, he said it was the government's belief that there should be an electoral system under which a majority of MPs should be elected under the first-past-the-post system and the rest on proportional representation system. "We have already implemented a mix electoral system when it comes to local bodies. It is essential to extend such a system to Parliament" he said.
Also he said the present Election Commission has earned criticism because of one of its member referred certain matters to the judiciary without the consent of other members.
"A number of free and fair elections had been held in this country even before an independent election commission was set up under the 19th Amendment. An Election Commission could always seek the advise of the judiciary" Mr. Gunawardene added. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)