The JVP on Saturday called on the government to hold local government elections immediately, arguing that there was no reason why it should not be held after the passing of the Local Government Elections Amendment last week.
“The Speaker should endorse the Bill immediately while Local Government Minister should do the rest so that elections could be held within 70 days as assured by the Chairman of the Elections Commission,” JVP leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying.
“The Amended Bill has ensured that the true will of the people is reflected by selecting 60 percent of the members through First Past the Post (FPP) system and 40 percent on Proportional Representation (PR) basis," he said.
“Only the two main parties could get their members elected under the original legislation as only 30 percent of the members are to elected on proportional representation basis."
Responding to questions by the press on his views on the government's proposed 20th Amendment to the constitution, Mr Dissanayake responded, “we have to study the real aspirations of the Government in bringing this piece of legislation though we are favourable towards holding the elections of all Provincial Councils on the same day. However we cannot endorse postponing of elections on certain councils.”
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