Opposition MPs boycott meeting of Provincial Council Select Committee

ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam 

The four Opposition Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Provincial Council Elections today boycotted the Committee’s tenth meeting, having concluded that the Committee is failing to demonstrate the seriousness and urgency required to facilitate the long-overdue Provincial Council elections.

The four Opposition Members — Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Mano Ganesan, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam and Nizam Kariapper — expressed serious concern over the manner in which the proceedings of the Committee are being conducted.

At today’s meeting, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, speaking on behalf of the four Opposition Members, informed the Committee that they could no longer support a process that has failed to produce meaningful progress towards holding Provincial Council elections despite ten meetings.

Importantly, practical solutions for conducting the elections are already before the Committee. The Election Commission has presented a clear proposal for conducting Provincial Council elections under the existing proportional representation system, including a provision to guarantee 25% representation for women.

There is also a further legislative option available. A Private Members’ Bill presented by Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, MP, relating to the conduct of Provincial Council elections is already on the Order Paper of Parliament. If a majority of Members agree, Parliament can proceed with this Bill and establish the necessary legal framework to conduct the elections.

Therefore, both practical and legislative options are already before Parliament. What is required now is not a further prolonging of the process, but the political will to make a decision and take concrete steps towards holding the elections.

This is particularly concerning given that the National People’s Power’s 2024 Presidential Election Manifesto explicitly committed to holding Provincial Council and Local Government elections within one year of assuming office. This commitment is set out on page 128 of the manifesto.

Provincial Councils have remained without elected representatives for several years, denying citizens their democratic right to elect representatives to provincial institutions. This situation cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely.

We therefore call upon the Government and the Select Committee to immediately take concrete steps, with a clear timeframe, towards conducting Provincial Council elections.

If the Select Committee fails to demonstrate a serious political commitment to holding Provincial Council elections, the four Opposition Members will be compelled to take a very serious decision. We do not wish to disclose the nature of that decision at this stage.