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Electoral reforms: Minor parties meet today to put forward common stand
View(s):Minor and minority parties are meeting in the evening today to formulate a common stand on the proposed electoral reforms and put forward their own recommendations.
The parties including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), People’s Liberation Front (JVP), Democratic People’s Front (DPF) and Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) are among the minor parties invited for the meeting due to take place at a hotel in Bambalapitiya. DPF leader Mano Ganesan told the Sunday Times that his party will come up with recommendations and its own proposals on the proposed electoral system. They will be sent to the President and Prime Minister for consideration.
“If the authorities fail to look into our concerns, we will seek legal intervention to stop any unilateral action,” he said.
A statement issued by the organisers of the meeting said:
“The majority parties and forces fail to understand the sentiments of the minority parties. The current Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system is the best system that has paved the way not only for minority parties but also for the minor parties. We agree there are shortcomings in the current system. They have to be rectified. But such rectification should not lead to big blunders made in haste,” a statement from the organisers said.
“We call upon all those who campaign for electoral reforms to let the next elections to be held under the current system. Any new system needs to address our fears,” the statement said. “We need further discussions. Besides the voters need to be given reasonable time to understand the new system. We cannot agree to the private agendas of certain big parties which want reform to suit their own ends,” the statement added.