The United People’s Freedom Alliance has also decided to change the present electoral system as an immediate task, if it comes to power after the next presidential election.

The new electoral system, which was formulated by a parliamentary committee headed by Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, will be a mix of the first-past-the-post system, ensuring that every electorate has its own Member of Parliament, and proportional representation.

The new electoral system is one of the key slogans of the common opposition, led by common candidate Maithripala Sirisena. It is included in the agreements signed by the parties of the common opposition and the Jathika Hela Urumaya.

The UPFA has decided to change the electoral system on the grounds that the present system will not allow any party to have a clear majority in the Parliament after the next general election, political sources told Asian Mirror. Although the ruling party enjoys a two thirds majority in the house at the moment, it is highly likely that the government will be able to secure a resounding majority in Parliament at the next general election.

However, the timelines of the next general election is still not clear. There are many reasons to believe that the common opposition is likely to go for a general election under the new electoral system after 100 days, if Maithripala Sirisena comes to power at the presidential election. There are some speculations that the Parliament will be dissolved only after April, 2015 – after completing five years upon election.

The term of the present Parliament officially ends in April, 2016.