• SJB & NPP oppose Govt.’s insincere moves as ruse to postpone polls

In the wake of the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms Minister, President’s Counsel Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe reportedly planning to put forward a proposal to amend the Parliamentary electoral system, Parliamentary Opposition parties called for a transparent and collaborative mechanism in order to achieve the best results.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (12), the main Parliamentary Opposition Party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna led National People’s Power (NPP) said that they will support these amendments only if the Government can prove its genuineness in this effort, and that otherwise, they are not ready to be puppets of the Government’s effort to postpone elections.

SJB General Secretary and Parliamentarian Ranjith Maddumabandara said that the Government has failed to unveil the purpose behind its intention to change the Parliamentary electoral system on the eve of oncoming Presidential and General Elections. He also said that such changes cannot be done at once since it requires a special majority of the Legislature to make amendments to the country’s electoral system. He added that the Government cannot find the required Parliamentary majority unless they openly consult the Opposition in this regard with the idea of reaching a consensus. He said that the SJB proposed to the Government to go for elections at the first instance before trying to change the electoral system.

Meanwhile, NPP Executive Committee member Sunil Handunnetti said that the Government is attempting to hamper the country’s democracy under the guise of electoral system amendments in order to cover up its failures in addressing public issues. He also said that these new changes could be the Government’s new tool of postponing elections since it does not have a legitimate mandate to rule the country. He also noted that the NPP will not support these proposed electoral changes due to its lack of genuineness.

This dialogue follows media reports that Dr. Rajapakshe is about to submit a paper to the Cabinet of Ministers seeking the amendment of the Parliamentary electoral system.