Sudarshani may vote against LG electoral amendments

By Himal Kotelawala

The Women’s Wing of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) may vote against proposed amendments to the local government electoral system as the said amendments could result in a drop in women’s representation at local authorities.

Speaking at the weekly SLFP press conference at the party headquarters in Colombo flanked by Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha, SLFP Women’s Wing Leader and State Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said she may be compelled to vote against the amendment if it was tabled in Parliament in its current format.

An Act introduced by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in 2016 sought to bring women’s representation at the local government level to 25% via a quota system. Under the proposed amendment, prospective members of local authorities will be elected under the first-past-the-post system and the proportional representation system at a 60:40 ratio. Dr. Fernandopulle warned that this new amendment will result in a significant drop in the number of female elected representatives.

“This won’t ensure a 25% representation for women. Though 10% of the 60 will be allocated for women to contest in, we know that women are usually nominated for divisions they cannot win in,” she said. 

The proportional system is designed to be advantageous to smaller parties, said Dr. Fernandopulle, adding that it is those parties that have been clamouring for the amendment.

“But these parties believe that if they win even one seat through the proportional system, that seat should go to a man,” she said.

“Within the 40% proportional system, if a party doesn’t get enough votes, women’s representation in some areas will drop to as low as 10%,” she added.

Dr. Fernandopulle urged her colleague Minister Musthapha not to table the amendment in Parliament.

“The 25% quota system was introduced by the Prime Minister to correct past mistakes. If this amendment will result in a reduction, as leader of the Women’s Wing, I have to oppose it. If it is presented to Parliament this way, I will vote against it,” she declared. Musthapha, meanwhile, acknowledging the importance of increasing women’s representation, said: “In India, research has shown that local authorities with more women have reduced levels of corruption and better fiscal management. I believe that this new system will result in more efficient local government bodies.”

When asked to clarify his position on Dr. Fernandopulle’s stance, he said President Maithripala Sirisena, as a strong advocate of women’s representation, will be open to discussing her concerns.

“The President is a democratic leader. Dr. Fernandopulle has said that a privilege offered to women by the 2016 Act might be lost due to this amendment. This can be discussed and we can come to an understanding,” he said.

The Minister said the Government was also thankful to the Prime Minister for his initiative.

“As a woman, Dr. Fernandopulle has a right to express her views on this, and we have no objection to it. But I believe that, through negotiation, we can arrive at a compromise so that she won’t vote against this amendment,” he said, adding that he has the fullest confidence that this can be done.

Having PC polls separately undemocratic: Mustapha

Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha said that election monitoring bodies such as PAFFREL are in agreement with the Government’s view that elections to all provincial councils should be held at once on a single date.

“Having PC polls separately is a waste of state resources. It also doesn’t reflect true democracy. We hope to hold polls to all PCs on a single date,” he said.