Provincial Council Election plans move forward as Election Commission says it is ready once Parliament decides the voting system.
The Provincial Council Election can be held once Parliament decides the voting method and passes the required legal framework, Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake has informed political party secretaries.
He stated that proposals have already been submitted to the Special Parliamentary Committee on the Provincial Council Election, and that the Election Commission is prepared to conduct the election according to the method specified by the Committee once a final decision is reached.
Ratnayake made these remarks during a recent discussion held at the Election Commission with political party secretaries and representatives of election monitoring organizations. The meeting was convened to brief them on the revision of the electoral register.
During the discussion, political party secretaries and election monitoring organization representatives questioned the Election Commission Chairman about the long-delayed Provincial Council Election. His response made clear that the Commission is ready, but the authority to decide the election method rests with Parliament.
The Chairman further stated that after the relevant Committee hands over its decision to the Speaker, the matter must be presented to Parliament and passed. Once Parliament approves it, the decision will become law, allowing the Election Commission to proceed with the election.
However, questions remain over which voting system will finally be selected. Ratnayake said Parliament must decide whether the Provincial Council Election will be held under the new system based on delimitation, or under the old system.
He also clarified that the Election Commission has no authority to submit proposals on which system should be used. Its role is to implement the law once Parliament makes the required decision.
This raises concerns about whether further delays could occur if political agreement is not reached on the electoral system. The choice between the delimitation-based new system and the old system remains one of the central issues holding back the election.
The Election Commission submitted its proposals to the Parliamentary Special Committee about two weeks ago. The Commission has also clarified the legal position regarding the Provincial Council Election and the steps needed before it can be conducted.
Officials of the Delimitation Committee are also expected to be summoned before the Special Parliamentary Committee in the future to obtain their views. Their input could play a key role if Parliament considers holding the election under the new delimitation-based system.
The Committee is scheduled to submit its report within three months. What happens next could be critical, as the future of the Provincial Council Election now depends on whether Parliament can quickly agree on the system, pass the necessary law, and clear the way for the Election Commission to act.
