Electronic voting system delayed

Delayed amendments to the election laws have indefinitely postponed the implementation of the electronic voting system, according to the Minister of Water Supply and Drainage and Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena.

Expressing concerns about the flaws in the current voting system at large, United National Party MP Ravi Karunanayke said: “We met the Elections Commissioner some time back. He was willing to have this new system installed. Despite some of the preparations made, the Government failed to install this system before January 2013.”

“It is possible to implement the electronic voting system in Sri Lanka provided that the necessary legislation is enacted for the implementation of the electronic voting system and the other requirements, including the allocation of financial provisions, are met for the launch of the program. India’s experience in this regard could be made use of in the implementation of electronic voting system in Sri Lanka,” said Gunawardena.

“New legislation has to be enacted for an open elector registration system to be established. Copies of computerised register of electors in compact disks are already being made available to recognise political parties on the request of secretaries of such political parties.”  (AH)