Even as certain sections of political parties in Sri Lanka continue to have reservations over the latest version of the proposed 20th Amendment, the government has gone ahead with the notification of the draft legislation in the gazette. As per the decision taken by the Cabinet last week, the overall size of Parliament will be 237, a rise of 12 compared to the existing legislature. Of this, 145 members will be elected directly, through the system of first past the post (FPTP).
Nominated members Though the notification does not talk of proportional representation (PR) numbers, this can be taken as 55, after taking into account the number of directly-elected members (145) and the nomination of 37 persons to the national list, which has also been mentioned in the notification.
The notification provides the scope for the Delimitation Commission for creating multi-member polling divisions and, in any event, the number of members to be elected through such a division should not exceed three.
The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the All Ceylon Makkal Congress are among those which have expressed objections to the proposed Amendment in the present form. Even the ruling United National Party is not happy with the move to increase the size of Parliament.
A few days ago, the TPA organised a meeting of minorities and minor parties in which Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), and the Democratic Party [led by Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka] took part. The meeting demanded the introduction of a double-ballot system.
Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) executive director Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon feels that the demand of double ballot system can be accommodated. He also wants the government to establish independent Election Commission and Police Commission, as envisaged in the 19th Amendment, before the parliamentary elections are held.
