SLFP set on 250 MPs

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The SLFP would continue to agitate to increase the number of legislators to 250 to have the present 160 electorates intact, SLFP Media Spokesman MP Dilan Perera told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

Commenting on the Cabinet of Ministers decision to approve the 20th Amendment to the Constitution with the number of MPs increased from 225 to 237, MP Perera said the SLFP is of the view that it would be very difficult to reduce 160 electorates to 145. The SLFP’s position is that the number of MPs should be increased to 250 to keep the 160 seats unchanged. That is the easiest way to overcome this deadlock. But we think 237 is better than 225.

MP Perera said that the SLFP would agitate for their demand and would discuss with other parties as well. “I have already discussed with Democratic People’s Front Leader Mano Ganesan and he fully agrees to our proposal. Irrespective of party politics, we will get together and agitate for 160 electorates. At the Committee Stage level in Parliament, we will try our best to convince all other political parties to support our position.”

The SLFP’s position on the 20th Amendment is very clear because it was the SLFP which proposed the most acceptable 20th Amendment draft to the Cabinet.