The National Election Commission has proposed a technical framework to increase the representation of women and youth in Provincial Council Elections while maintaining the existing Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system.

The proposal was presented to the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to study and recommend the electoral system for future Provincial Council Elections.

The Committee, chaired by Minister Vijitha Herath, discussed the Election Commission’s report at a meeting held at Parliament, with Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, the Chairperson of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, and members of the Caucus also taking part.

The Election Commission’s report focuses on improving opportunities for women and youth candidates without changing the current method of calculating election results under the PR system.

Committee members examined possible legal and practical challenges involved in introducing mechanisms to ensure greater representation of women and youth. Further discussions on the proposals are expected at a future meeting, according to a statement issued by the Department of Communication of Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus unanimously called for women’s representation at Provincial Council and Local Government Elections to be increased to a minimum of 33 percent.

The Caucus stressed that the proposed electoral reforms should take this target into account when finalizing the new framework.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Ministers Arun Hemachandra and Sunil Watagala, MPs R. M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Mano Ganesan, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Samanmali Gunasinghe and Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi.

Election Commission Chairman R. M. A. L. Ratnayake and other members of the Commission were also present.