Political parties not represented in Parliament to be summoned before Select Committee on Election Law Reforms

The Liberal Party, Akil Ilankai Tamilar Maha Sabai, Social Democratic Party of Tamils, Sinhaladeepa Jathika Peramuna, Samathuvakkadchi Party, Mawbima Janatha Party and the United Peace Alliance have been summoned before the Parliament Select Committee to identify appropriate reforms to election laws and the electoral system and to recommend necessary amendment.

Parliament Secretary and Deputy Secretary General/Chief of Staff Kushani Rohanadeera said out of the seven political parties not represented in Parliament, five have confirmed their participation, while Mawbima Janatha Party and the United Peace Alliance are yet to confirm.

The committee will meet in Parliament today (28) at 2 pm under the chairmanship of Leader of the House, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

PAFFREL, an election monitoring organisation, presented their proposals at the PSC meeting on the 14th.

The Parliamentary Select Committee was appointed by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena last April to make recommendations to amend the electoral law and the electoral structure. The committee met for the first time on May 17.

The other members of the committee are Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Prof. GL Peiris, Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, PC Ali Sabri, State Minister Jeevan Thondaman, MPs Kabir Hashim, Ranjith Maddumabandara, Mano Ganeshan, M.A. Sumanthiran and Sagara Kariyawasam.