SL to adopt electoral system of New Zealand with improvements
More powers to be devolved to provinces
by Zacki Jabbar-October 3, 2016
in Auckland, New Zealand
Sri Lanka, having rejected the German electoral model, is looking at improving on New Zealand’s electoral system, says Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Addressing the Sri Lankan community in Auckland on Saturday, the Prime Minister said that a combination of the first-past-the-post and the proportional representation systems on a 60 to 40 percent basis would be introduced, making it better than the one being used in New Zealandn through the allocation of six bonus seats to the winning party. "Having looked at the German model, we have decided that New Zealand’s electoral system coupled with our proposal to provide the provinces more devolution would be ideal."
Wickremesinghe observed that it was interesting to be innovative and that was the way forward if Sri Lanka was to achieve its full potential.
"It is essential that we establish our own links to see what contributions could be made," Wickremesinghe said, adding that New Zealand and Sri Lanka were both committed to a social market economy, like Germany.
He emphasised that all political parties would have to work together for Sri Lanka to put its house in order.
"The CWC headed by Arumugam Thondaman is in consultation with President Maithripala Sirisena who heads our National Government. The JVP, the Tamil National Alliance led by R.Sampanthan and the Joint Opposition are also contributing to the national debate on establishing a new Constitution," Prime Minister Wickremesinghe noted, stressing on the need for a change in mindset.
Recalling that Sampanthan and he had entered Parliament in 1977 and worked together on many issues, Wickremesinghe said that the TNA leader was genuine in his commitment to forging national unity.
The Prime Minister, who is on a three-day official visit, is being accompanied by his wife Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake, Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando, State Minister for City Planning and Water Supply Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva, Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Ekanayake, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister Charitha Ratwatte, Additional Secretary (Media) Saman Athaudahetti, Personal Assistant to the Prime Minister Sandra Perera and the Foreign Ministry’s Director East Asia and Pacific, Savitri Panabokke.
