Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) MP Mano Ganeshan met with former President and Leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Maithripala Sirisena at his official residence on Thursday. Ganeshan told the media that he had met Sirisena to inquire about the SLFP’s stand regarding the electoral system and to discuss it further.
The TPA leader further said: “Attempts are being made to completely change the electoral system, abolish the Proportional Representation (PR) system, implement only the mixed system, undermine the existence of political parties with alternative political policies and the minority parties, and bury the current multi-party democracy in this country.”
He noted that it was revealed at the Select Committee meeting that the SLFP has also expressed support for the mixed system.
“At this meeting, I explained to the former President that this stand by the SLFP was contrary to the position previously expressed directly to me by him as the SLFP Leader and the General Secretary of the Party MP Dayasiri Jayasekara,” Ganeshan noted.
Therefore, he said that he had explained to the former President that the SLFP is the third-largest party in the country today and in such a scenario, the proposed mixed electoral system will affect not only the Tamil and Muslim parties but also the SLFP, JVP and all other political parties with alternative political policies.
He pointed out that at present the SJB and the JVP are also of the view that the PR system should continue.
“Also, Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the TPA, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), which represent the Tamil and Muslim communities, also support the PR system. Many leaders of allied parties within the Government as well as minority parties have personally told me that they support the PR system. This is because the proposed mixed system challenges their existence,” he added.
During their meeting, former President and SLFP Leader Maithripala Sirisena said, “The statement at the PSC was wrong. The position of our party has not been expressed properly. The official delegation of our party will state our position in the near future. The SLFP does not accept the mixed system. We support the PR system. The Local Government elections can be held under the mixed system. However, PR is appropriate for Provincial and Parliamentary Elections.”
The SLFP leader had also said, “It is good that this country has an Executive Presidency. It serves to unite the country. But, similarly, a pluralistic Parliament is needed to represent all political policies. That is why it is good for democracy in this country. This is the position of the SLFP.”
by Daily News Sri Lanka
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