Charitha accuses Govt. of creating public confusion on electoral system

FPC MP Prof. Charitha Herath 

• Claims there is a coordinated effort to sow confusion and uncertainty about two upcoming polls
• Questions how a President and Govt. without a clear legitimacy undertake electoral reforms
• Says an electoral system holds heightened significance during an economic crisis
• Urges Govt. to cease its risky manipulation of country’s electoral system,

Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) MP Prof. Charitha Herath yesterday criticised the Government for purposely causing public confusion regarding the country’s electoral system and polls set for next year.

“During Ranil Wickremesinghe’s time as Prime Minister, he postponed the Provincial Council elections, and some MPs from minority parties who currently advocate for the 13th Amendment supported this move in 2017. Likewise, Local Government elections were postponed, citing insufficient funds. Presently, there seems to be a coordinated effort to sow confusion and uncertainty about the two upcoming parliamentary and Presidential elections,” he remarked.

The MP made these comments at a press conference held at the FPC head office in Nawala yesterday. 

Expanding on his perspective, Herath highlighted that Government ministers are actively introducing 

Cabinet papers aimed at altering the electoral system.

“Newspapers that hold a favourable stance toward the President are asserting that the executive presidency will be abolished and a referendum will be held in this regard. Additionally, the President has constituted a nine-member commission led by retired Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, tasked with proposing alterations to Sri Lanka’s electoral structure,” he pointed out. The MP also highlighted that in the meantime, at the recent United National Party (UNP) convention, the President pledged to conduct elections as originally planned for the next year.

The MP maintained that these actions are deliberately carried out to foster confusion and uncertainty among the public concerning both the electoral system and the forthcoming elections.

“How can a President and Government without clear legitimacy to hastily undertake reforms to the country’s electoral system,” he asked. “This is not the time for this,” the MP noted.

According to Herath, the most effective approach during an economic crisis is to engage in democratic discussions to collectively reach the optimal solution.

He emphasised that an electoral system holds heightened significance during an economic crisis, as it empowers the people to choose those who have thoroughly analysed the problems and can offer the right solutions. “No one will be able to resolve the crisis if democracy falls,” he said. 

The MP called upon the Government to cease its risky manipulation of the electoral system, asserting that the Opposition is committed to thwarting the Government’s efforts to stifle the political arena in the country.