Registering of new political parties indicates rifts among major ones

27 October 2021 09:07 am Views - 77

• EC says last year they received 200 applications of new political parties 
• Only five had been accepted last year, as new parties failed to meet requirements  
• Sources say this signals all is not right within major parties  
• SLFP low ranks facing split in North as MP Angajan’s father applies for new party
• SL presently has an estimated 70 parties, more than the political parties found in India  

By JAMILA HUSAIN  

Sri Lanka’s Elections Commission has received an increase in applications for registration of new political parties, signalling a rift in some of the major parties already in existence. Sources also said Sri Lanka had now bypassed India with the number of political parties registered in the country.   

According to senior officials from the Elections Commission, it is said that Sri Lanka already had an estimated 70 political parties registered in the country, a number bypassing even the number of registered parties found in India, and last year alone a further 200 applications were received out of which only five were accepted.   

“Applications are usually called in June every year and once the application of a party is rejected, they cannot re-apply for another two years.However, some new parties, including one in the North, whose application was rejected last year due to the inability to meet minimum requirements has already applied again this year, ignoring the basic procedure of having to even wait for two years,” it is said.  

Sources alleged that the scenario was because they were attempting to use the connections of those already in power to have their own way.