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Minor political parties in Sri Lanka want more changes to polls system

Xinhua, June 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Minor political parties in Sri Lanka, on Monday, demanded more changes to a proposed electoral system and refused to agree to the system proposed by the country' s cabinet.

The People's Liberation Front said that the minor parties, including those represented in Parliament, had also agreed that the next parliament election must be held under the existing elections system.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) meanwhile warned that it is ready to go to court to challenge the electoral system if the proposals are gazetted in its current form.

SLMC leader and government Minister Rauff Hakeem said that the SLMC and other minority and minor parties want more amendments to the proposals.

Cabinet on Friday approved proposals to increase the number of seats in Parliament to 237 from the current 225 under the 20th Amendment to the constitution.

Hakeem however said that minority and minor parties in cabinet had also proposed that a twin ballot paper system be introduced where the voter can vote for his or her political party and the candidate separately.

The SLMC leader said the proposal had not been included in the 20th Amendment which was approved by cabinet on Friday.

He said that President Maithripala Sirisena had assured the minor and minority parties that their concerns will be discussed separately before the final document on electoral reforms is gazetted.

Hakeem however said that if the 20th Amendment to the constitution is submitted to parliament before that discussion takes place then the SLMC will seek support to vote against it.

He said that 20th Amendment to the constitution cannot be formulated to meet the needs of the main political parties in parliament. Endi