SLFP to file legal action against delays in PC polls

Friday, 1 February 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara

- Pic by Ruwan Walpola

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is taking steps to file legal action against Internal & Home Affairs and Provincial Councils & Local Government Minister Vajira Abeywardena for postponing Provincial Council Elections, SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara said yesterday.

Speaking at the weekly press briefing, Jayasekara called on the Government to hold elections, bringing in new regulations in line with a Cabinet paper adopted during their ‘50-day Government’, noting the party is planning a host of actions, including filing legal action and island-wide protests, to push the Government to hold elections.

“We are ready to go to courts and hold protests in different parts of the country,” Jayasekara said, speaking to journalists.

The terms of three Provincial Councils – Eastern, North Central and Sabaragamuwa – elapsed 16 months ago, while the official tenure of Central, Northern and North Western Provincial Councils lapsed four months ago. However, elections have been delayed after Parliament voted against the Delimitation Report to hold elections under the new 50:50 mixed proportionate system.

SLFP has been advocating to hold elections under the preferential system used earlier, with amendments to facilitate 25% female representation.

During the 51-day Sirisena-Rajapaksa Government, a Cabinet paper was presented which proposed to draft legislation to enable the Government to hold Provincial Council Elections, under the previous mechanism of electing representatives though a proportional representation system, with amendments to ensure 25% women candidates in nomination lists.

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