Select Committee to seek public opinions and feedback on election law review process

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Reviewing Election Laws has met for the first time in Parliament under the chairmanship of the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Prof. A.H.M.H. Abayarathna.

The primary objective of the committee is to review laws relating to the electoral system, including the Registration of Electors Act, the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance, the Parliamentary Elections Act, the Presidential Elections Act, as well as amendments made to those laws over the years and special legislative provisions relevant to their implementation.

In addition, the committee has been tasked with evaluating the need to revise, amend and consolidate the laws and to recommend necessary reforms and amendments to the current legal framework governing elections, the Department of Communication of Parliament said in a statement.

Meanwhile, in order to conduct a comprehensive study, the committee has been vested with the authority to summon any individual before the committee as deemed necessary, require the submission of any document or report and obtain evidence either in writing or orally.

Furthermore, the committee is empowered to obtain the assistance of experts and professionals with specialized knowledge in relevant fields to support its work.
Accordingly, the members of the committee agreed to obtain public views for the committee’s activities and to raise wider public awareness regarding the review process.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala and Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, J.C. Alawathuwala, Harshana Rajakaruna, Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Thushari Jayasinghe, and Chandima Hettiarachchi.