AJITH SIRIWARDANA 
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No agreement on electoral reforms by UPFA allies: Dinesh
Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) Leader Dinesh Gunawardane said yesterday that no agreement had been reached among the constituent parties of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) on the proposed electoral reforms though it had been claimed otherwise in various quarters.
Mr. Gunawardane told the Daily Mirror his party was opposed to the increase in the number of parliamentary seats to 255. Likewise, he said the three leftist parties- the Democratic Left Alliance, Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) and the Communist Party had associated themselves with the MEP in certain aspects on the electoral reforms.
"There is no agreement among all the parties. It has not been discussed who has the authority to appoint members on the National List. Is it the party leader concerned who should nominate members to the National List slots?" he asked.
Mr. Gunawardane also said he spearheaded the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms, but his recommendations had been disregarded in the evolution of the present set of proposals for a change in the parliamentary election system.
"We, in the Select Committee, entertained public views for the evolution of our reforms. It is a parliamentary body. What is the use of a Parliamentary Select Committee if its proposals are disregarded?," he asked.
Mr. Gunawardane charged that the present set of proposals, available for discussion, had emerged out of the blues from the President's Office.
"We are answerable to the general public. We stick to the Select Committee proposals," he said.( Kelum Bandara )
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