The government has proposed establishing a parliamentary selection committee to make decisions regarding the modification of local government elections, including the reduction of the number of local government body members.
Tuesday is reportedly when President Ranil Wickramasinghe will meet with political party leaders to discuss a proposal to reduce the number of local councillors from 8,700 to 4,400.
According to Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, the goal is to introduce legislative amendments to reduce the number of members of parliament and make other changes.
According to Minister Rajapaksa, he informed Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on Friday about the proposed selection committee and received a positive response.
He stated that the report from the selection committee is expected within two weeks so that the cabinet can review and approve the amendments before the next local government election, which will take place before March of next year.
Mr. Ranjith Madduma Bandara, general secretary of Samagi Jana Balawega, stated that he is not opposed to reducing the number of members, but he is opposed to any action taken to delay the local government election by utilising the selection committee process.
S.G. Punchihewa, chairman of the Election Commission, told the Sunday Times that it is estimated that the election will cost between 10 and 11 billion rupees.
The nominations will be announced by the end of the month, and preparations are being made to hold the elections in late February or early March, according to him.
