Ready to hold Provincial Council elections if Opposition agrees on electoral system: PM

28 November 2023 04:46 pm Views - 1347

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Parliament, Nov. 28 (Daily Mirror)- The Government is prepared to hold the delayed Provincial Council elections if the Opposition agrees on the electoral system, Prime Minister Dinsesh Gunawardene told Parliament today.

“Opposition MPs are making a different proposal on the system under which the Provincial Council elections are to be held. We can hold the elections if they agree on the system under which the Provincial Council elections are to be held,” the Prime Minister said.

“Some Opposition members say the Provincial Council elections should be held under the old system and others under the new system. A constituency system is also important. No party has come to an agreement at the select committee on the Provincial Council elections,” he said.

“Those who call for the holding of Provincial Council elections are the ones who approved the amendment to the Provincial Council Elections Ordinance which pushed the holding of election into a deadlock,” he added.

Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP J.C. Alawathuwela said their party is for holding the Provincial Council elections under the old system. 

“We will support it if an amendment is introduced to hold the Provincial Council elections under the old system,” Kiriella said.