(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – Minority parties say they will boycott the Local Government Election if the government holds the election without the amendment of the Provincial Council Act.
According to the reports, leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Minister Mano Ganesan said minority parties will be at a disadvantage if the Local Government Election is held without the amendment of the Provincial Council Act.
Minister Mano Ganesan stated the issue will be discussed with the President and the Prime Minister.
The Minister said Delimitation alone is a not an excuse to delay the election.
He noted the Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya himself stated 54 errors exist in the Provincial Councils Act thus far.
Accordingly Minister Ganesan said the act must be amended.
He noted the First-past-the-post principle contained in the Act currently stands at 70% and the Proportional Representations System at 30%, adding as the Proportional Representations System decreases, the disadvantage for minority parties was greater.
The Minister stated the current standard was unacceptable and must be amended adding minority parties and minorities must not be allowed to suffer such a disadvantage.
Minister Mano Ganesan concluded by stating if nothing is done to amend the Act, minority parties will be forced to boycott the election.