SLFP group plans Committee Stage move :

UNP, small parties alert for attempt to fix 20A

by Rasika Jayakody

The UNP and minor party allies in the Government are on alert for a possible attempt by some SLFP parliamentarians to disrupt the smooth passage of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution at the Committee stage of this crucial bill that will decide the future electoral system.

The Sunday Observer learns that a group of SLFP MPs may attempt to introduce two revisions to the 20th Amendment Bill at the Committee stage. The two alterations, according to political sources, are a stipulation to conduct the forthcoming Parliamentary election under the new electoral system and also increasing the number of seats under the First-Past-the-Post (FPP) system. According to these sources, the SLFP group will seek the backing of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) to make alterations during the Committee stage.

A parliamentarian involved in the planned move told the Sunday Observer : “the total number of seats in Parliament should be increased to 255. At least 165 MPs should be elected to Parliament under the FPP system. The SLFP has already decided to make this amendment during the Committee stage”.

The proposed move by some SLFP MPs will go against the strategy agreed to by the Cabinet in this regard. During the last Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the Ministers decided that the next Parliamentary election would be held under the current PR system, as the government and relevant authorities required more time to implement the new system to be introduced under the 20A.

This SLFP group is of the view that it is in a position to make alternations during the Committee stage as the party still has a majority in Parliament. However, to a secure a simple majority during the committee stage, the SLFP will require the support of party MPs who have aligned themselves with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. At this point, the pro-Rajapaksa group is not very vocal when it comes to electoral reforms and the 20th Amendment to the constitution.

“In the face of such a move,” a Cabinet Minister representing the UNP said,” our party will withdraw its support to the 20th Amendment during the third reading vote. The JVP, the SLMC and the TNA will also follow suit.”

If the UNP, the JVP, the SLMC and the TNA decide to withdraw its support for the 20th Amendment during the third reading vote after Committee stages, the constitutional amendment will fail to secure a two-thirds majority vote in the House. Most smaller parties are known to be already unhappy with some provisions in the 20th Amendment Bill.