The People’s Action For Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) requested the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Amendments to the Election System Chairman and Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to grant sufficient time for citizens to submit proposals and opinions on amending the elections system.
Time has been granted until June 19, 2021 for organizations and individuals interested in amending the election system to submit proposals and opinions.
People’s Action For Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi in a letter said they believe that appointing of a PSC for submitting amendments and looking into rules and regulations of reforms in connection with the structure of elections is a timely requirement.
Although time has been granted until June 19 for organizations and individuals interested in amending the election system to submit proposals and opinions, in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic, a doubtful scenario has been created within the country as to whether adequate attention will be focused on this matter by the public.
The PAFFREL letter also said that if an Election System which represents, to the maximum, aspirations of the people is to be prepared, there is no doubt that a proper period of time is needed where a dialogue can be conducted with a clear mind to ensure that an Election System comprising more developed characteristics, can be established.
However, the Corona pandemic has in a most unfortunate manner pushed to the back seat, all other priorities and
dragged the people into a totally different type of struggle.
As the leading Election Observer Organization in Sri Lanka, the Corona pandemic has become an obstruction to hold dialogues at district level to gather proposals from citizens to hand over to the Select Committee. This is a powerful challenge within a severe pandemic that has an impact on not only us but all organizations who are interested.
The PAFFREL said further that they direct Minister’s attention towards the above-mentioned facts and request humbly that the consideration of PSC be focused on delaying the task of obtaining ideas and proposals from the public until the Corona pandemic situation is brought under control at least to a certain extent and if that is not possible to grant sufficient time for citizens to engage in this endeavour.
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