Govt to revert to previous voting system [September 27 2008]

The Government has plans to reintroduce the First Past the Post election system while maintaining the existing Proportional Representative System (PR). Urban Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardana told the Observer Online that a new Bill in this regard will be submitted shortly for Cabinet approval.

He said the Government will conduct the future Provincial Council and General Elections under the new election system. "Accordingly, 70 per cent of the candidates will be selected through the First Past the Post system while the remaining 30 per cent will be under the PR system."

The Minister said that the main shortcoming of the current PR system is that no members are elected to Parliament from some electorates while about two members are elected from one electorate.