Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Saturday (28) said that the forthcoming general election expected within this year should be the last election under the proportional voting system.

 

Participating in 'Satana' political talk show on Sirasa TV, Dissanayake stated that forthcoming general election should not be held under the proposed electoral system.

 

“In the first place 19th constitutional amendments should be passed in the parliament. After that we can change the electoral system. There is no need to hold the general election under the changed electoral system because general public is not aware about the new system” he elaborated.

 

The accepted practice is to give at least one year to the citizens in a country to study about a changed electoral system. Therefore Sri Lanka should do the same because public awareness is very important, he added.

 

“We must educate people about the electoral system from public awareness programs. After changing electoral system it should be included to school syllabus too. People need to know about it. Without this, there is no use of introducing a new system” Dissanayake explained.

 

Addressing a meeting in the parliamentary complex on March 10 Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya had told representatives of political parties that it will take a minimum of three months to introduce a new electoral system.

 

During the meeting representatives had come to an agreement that the new electoral system must be a combination of proportional voting system and first-past-the-post system, media reported.