This is not a panacea for all ills - Nishantha

by Manjula Fernando

The JHU National Organiser Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe has warned against the failure to pass the 20th Amendment, containing aspirational electoral reforms may result in a hung parliament and an unstable country. He alleged minority parties of scuttling the process.

Q: What is the JHU’s stance on the Government’s decision to hold the forthcoming general election under the present system?

The reforms brought under the 19th Amendment will be meaningful, only if the next parliament is elected under the proposed 20th Amendment. It is the only way to secure a stable parliament. We have always upheld the opinion that the next election should be held under a new system after passing the 20-A in Parliament. The changes to the electoral system should be effected immediately afterwards, if not what’s the point in changing the system in this manner.

There are strong reasons to believe if the next general election is held under the present system, the result would be a hung parliament and an unstable country. Some political parties argue that the 20-A should be passed before the dissolution of parliament but wait for the following general election in 2020 to implement the new system. If so, then the same policy could have been applied to the 19-A.

Q: How do you respond to the claim that it would be at least eight months before a new electoral system is ready for implementation ?

That is not true. It takes only about three months. The delimitation process is the only task that will require a lengthy period of time. With the passing of the 19-A there is no provision to bring in emerency Bills.But the process can be expedited, just like the way the 19-A was passed.

With the consent of the party leaders the parliament can hold daily sittings to speed up the process. All you need is political will and determination.

Q: Do you expect to bring in amendments to the 20-A Bill at the committee stage debate in Parliament, if so what are those changes that you propose?

The Prime Minister proposed the Cabinet on June 8, to limit the number of seats in the new parliament to 225. The minority and minor parties including the JHU were of the opinion that the number of seats should go up to 255. The SLMC had another proposal, to have a double ballot paper option.

We think the double ballot paper option is a complex issue. It might give the minority parties disproportionate representation leading to a hung parliament. Such a novel concept requires wider consultation before putting it into practice. Anyway it has not received the consent of all the minor and minority parties. When the small parties rejected the 225 seat proposal, it was revised to 237 seats. We welcome this positive development. Yet, the reduction of electorates from 160 to 145, proposed in the second draft which received the Cabinet nod, will create issues and delay the whole process at the delimitation stage.

The JHU, therefore thinks the number of seats must be increased to 245. This is also the view of the Elections Commissioner. These will be addressed at the committee stage.

Q: Do you think the 20-A is a panacea for all ills ?

No. It will not be a cure for all ills. But it will resolve many existing issues. For instance the replacement of Preferential votes system, will curb inter party and intra party rivalry and violence. We need to amend the Elections Act and give more teeth to Elections Commissioner.

There are additional responsibilities on political parties and Independent Commissions to ensure a violence free, decent election. A code of ethics for politicians is also a must.

Q: It seems the future for 20-A is very bleak ?

Many seem to aspire a stillbirth with the 20-A. We just heard that the a collective of minority parties led by SLMC passed a resolution to call for the immediate withdrawal of the 20-A.

It gives the impression that certain main parties were also behind this move. It is premature to say anything certain at this stage, if this will see the light of day. As far as the JHU is concerned we believe that passing the 20-A at this stage is crucial for the country.