The Select Committee of Parliament to Identify Appropriate Reforms of Election Laws and the Electoral System and to Recommend Amendments has discussed the possibility of holding Local Government Elections under a mixed system of the first past the post and proportional representation system.
The parties had discussed the selection of 60 percent of the representatives under the first past the post system and 40 percent under the Proportional Representation system.
The discussions took place under the chairmanship of Leader of the House, Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in Parliament on Thursday, February 10.
Discussions also centered on giving more prominence to women when nominating candidates from all political parties to increase the representation of women in Local Government bodies. Reducing the number of representatives in Local Government bodies was also discussed.
The proposals by the Independent Television Network and the private MTV Channel regarding the electoral system were also tabled.
Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Prof. G. L. Peiris, State Minister Jeevan Thondaman, Members of Parliament Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Kabir Hashim, Rauff Hakeem, M. A. Sumanthiran, Mano Ganesan, Madhura Withanage, Sagara Kariyawasam and Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadheera were also present.