Reforms to include 25% females to LG bodies - PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says that reforms will be introduced by the government to include 25 per cent females into local government authorities before the next LG election. 

The Prime Minister made these comments while addressing the gathering during a ceremony marking the 60th Anniversary of the Elections Department in Colombo today. 

He stated that the government intends to discuss the prevailing issues in the country’s electoral system within the next couple of months and to reach a solution by the end of this year. 

Wickremesinghe stated that several problems in the electoral system were discussed and addressed to a certain extent through the 19th amendment to the constitution and that however some issues still exist. 

The Prime Minister further stated that the government has a duty to introduce electronic voting machines to the country, carry out trials with it and brief the public on them. 

Terming female representation in Sri Lankan politics as a very important problem, he said that “female representation in the country is low.”

“Although 51 per cent of the country’s population is female, I don’t think even a dozen females are in Parliament,” Wickremesinghe said.

He state that one proposal to resolve this issue is to allocate a certain number of nominations for females but that does not guarantee female representation. 

The other system we are currently discussing is to increase the number of members in Pradeshiya Sabhas and Provincial Councils if necessary and allocate 25 per cent for female representatives, he said. 

 He said that the government is hoping to bring this amendment before the next Local Government polls and implement it at that election. 
 
The local government election is scheduled to be held in March next year.