FPP electoral system comes to a standstill

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The re-introduction of the First Past the Post (FPP) electoral system has come to a standstill due to the negative response, shown by some Opposition political parties including the main Opposition UNP and the JVP, Chairman, Select Committee on Electoral Reforms of Urban Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardana said.

Minister Gunawardana told the Sunday Observer that it is vital to introduce the FPP electoral system again in the country, considering the needs of voters who face numerous hardships due to the Proportional Representative (PR) system. He said most of the voters are not satisfied with the PR system, since many of their representatives are not elected to the Parliament since members are appointed on the number of preferential votes obtained by each member from the whole district.

The Minister said that the main shortcoming of the current PR system is that members are not elected to Parliament from certain electorates, while about two members are elected for one electorate.

"As a result, many voters cannot submit their proposals to Parliament or air their grievances".

According to the Select Committee recommendations, 70 percent of the members for future Parliaments and Local Government institutions are expected to be selected under the FPP system and the remaining 30 percent will be selected under the PR system.

Minister Gunawardana also said that recommendations in the introduction of the FPP system have already been put forward by the Select Committee, but the main Opposition UNP, has not yet decided to accept some recommendations."Meanwhile, the JVP too has not yet agreed to the final recommendations," he said.

Asked whether the Government is expected to hold the forthcoming General Election on the basis of 70 percent under the FPP system and the remaining 30 percent under the PR system, the Minister said that this can be done with the consent of all Opposition parties.