Why the LG electoral system was hastily changed
by C.A.Chandraprema-August 26, 2017
The drama that took place both within and outside Parliament last week in relation to the amendments brought to the local government elections law highlights more than anything else the profound political crisis faced by the government. In 2012, the local government elections law was changed by the Rajapaksa government in response to the long standing demand that the method of election of people’s representatives should change to enable the people to have an identifiable representative for each ward or constituency and also to ensure a stable administration or government as the case may be. As such the 2012 law provided for local representatives to be elected from the wards on a first past the post basis, and for 30% of the representatives to be elected on the principle of proportional representation.
