The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) has, in a letter sent to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, suggested that the government either conduct the long overdue Provincial Council elections or abolish the Provincial Council system as the NPP government has a two-thirds majority in Parliament and is in a position to secure people’s approval for such a move at a referendum.
CaFFE has pointed out the Provincial Governors, who are representatives of the Executive President, have been running the PC the past seven years or so.
The Provincial Council elections have not been held as the proposed amendments to the Provincial Council Act as well as the report of the Delimitation Commission has not been finalised.
CaFFE says that the government has a mandate to have the PC elections conducted under the proportional representation system. The election monitor has also requested the President to ensure that there is adequate female and youth representation in the PC if the government decides to continue with them.
The letter to the President has been sent under the signatures of CaFFE’s Executive Director Manas Makeen and Director Administration Surangi Ariyawansa.
by PRIYAN DE SILVA 