Sri Lanka Election Secretariat proposes by-elections in the new local government bill

Sri Lanka Election Secretariat has proposed to amend the draft local government elections bill to include holding by-elections in case of vacation of post by an elected member.

According to the present draft of the bill, the elections for the local government bodies are to be held in first-past-the-post system in electoral units. However, the secretary of the relevant party can nominate an individual to fill a vacancy of an elected member.
Sri Lanka Election Secretariat has argued that the by-elections in this regard will enhance democracy instead of nominations by the party secretary.

Election Secretariat sources say that the proposed amendments have been sent to the parliamentary advisory committee.
The proposed bill is to be tabled in the parliament following the budget debate.