EC members discuss electoral reforms with officials, civil society members

Text and picture by PRIYAN DE SILVA

Chairman of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL) Nimal Punchihewa and its members K.P.P. Pathirana, M.M. Mohamed, and S.B. Divarathne, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayaka and Additional Commissioner of Elections Chinthaka Kularathne met government officials, members of civil society organisations, election monitors and members of the public in Hambantota on Monday (22) to discuss the proposals presented to Parliament on 23 June by the Select Committee of Parliament appointed to identify appropriate reforms of the electoral laws and the electoral system.

The Public Consultation on Electoral Laws and Reforms in Hambantota was hosted by the NGO Institute of Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) with logistical support from yet another NGO the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES).

Executive Director of IRES Manjula Gajanayake said that the members of the ECSL had been invited to visit all 25 districts to discuss the reforms to electoral laws proposed by the parliamentary select committee with stakeholders in the district.

District Secretary Hambantota H P Sumanasekera, Assistant Election Commissioner Hambantota Subashana Wedage, Executive Director of IRES Manjula Gajanayaka and head of programmes at IFES Indraka Ubeysekera were also present at the discussion.