Sri Lanka Marxist party decides to oppose the proposed amendments to local government elections

Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JV) says it plans to oppose the Local Government Elections Bill, as there are several discrepancies in the proposed legislation.

JVP parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a press conference today that there should be a proper functioning method to reflect the views of the people in a proper democratic representation and that the proposed amendments do not reflect this situation.
He said that according to the amendments, the divisions of the local authority are defined by a Commission appointed by the Local Government Minister and would therefore not be conducted in a scientific method, but purely based on political needs.

Dissanayake also pointed out many other "discrepancies" in the Bill.

According to Dissanayake, those in Provincial Councils have merely raised their hands without a proper understanding of the Bill.

He said the government has formed the amendments without considering the democracy of the people and to find a quick solution to the critical political conditions in the country at present.