Seven political parties not represented in Parliament invited by PSC to ascertain views on electoral reforms

Seven political parties currently not represented in Parliament had been invited by the Parliament Select Committee to identify appropriate reforms of the election laws and the electoral system to ascertain their views, said its Secretary and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament and Chief of Staff Kushani Rohanadeera.

The committee will meet in Parliament tomorrow (28) at 2.00 pm under the chairmanship of Leader of the House, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Among the parties invited so far are Liberal Party, Akil Ilankai Tamilar Maha Sabai, Social Democratic Party of Tamils, Sinhaladeepa Jathika Peramuna and Samathuvakkadchi Party have confirmed their participation, the Deputy Secretary General said.

The parties that have not yet confirmed their participation are the Mawbima Janatha Party and the United Peace Alliance.

PAFFREL, an election monitoring organisation, presented its proposals at the PSC meeting on July 14. 

The Parliamentary Select Committee was appointed by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena last April to make recommendations on amending electoral laws.

The committee met for the first time on May 17.

The other members of the committee are Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Prof. G.L. Peiris, Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, Ali Sabri PC, State Minister Jeevan Thondaman, MPs Kabir Hashim, Ranjith Maddumabandara, Mano Ganesan, M.A. Sumanthiran and Sagara Kariyawasam