COLOMBO – Parliament on Wednesday (10) approved an extension of the mandate of the Parliamentary Select Committee tasked with recommending reforms to the Provincial Council electoral system, granting the panel until September 17, 2026, to submit its report and draft proposals.
The motion to extend the committee’s tenure was presented by Leader of the House and Minister, Bimal Ratnayake, and was subsequently approved by Parliament.
Addressing the House, Ratnayake said the Select Committee had been appointed following a parliamentary resolution adopted in January to examine the electoral framework under which future Provincial Council elections should be conducted.
“The committee was established to study the electoral system applicable to Provincial Council elections and submit its recommendations. In accordance with Standing Order 102, it has been decided to extend the committee’s mandate to facilitate the completion of its work,” he said.
The extension comes amid continuing debate over the electoral system to be adopted for Provincial Council polls, which have remained overdue for several years.
Opposition legislators questioned the government’s commitment to holding the elections without further delay.
New Democratic Front MP Ravi Karunanayake noted that the government had repeatedly stressed the need to conduct Provincial Council elections expeditiously, but argued that extending the committee’s timeline appeared inconsistent with that objective.
“While the government says elections should be held soon and has called on opposition parties to submit their proposals, it is now extending the term of the very committee responsible for making recommendations. This raises concerns about the pace of the process,” Karunanayake told Parliament.
Opposition Chief Whip Gayantha Karunathilaka also expressed reservations, saying the extension could fuel public doubts about the government’s willingness to hold the elections promptly.
“The Select Committee was appointed to facilitate an early decision on Provincial Council elections. Extending its tenure inevitably raises questions about whether there is a genuine intention to proceed without delay,” he said.
The committee has been tasked with reviewing possible reforms to the Provincial Council electoral framework, including measures to strengthen constituency-based representation, enhance opportunities for women and youth participation, and address concerns surrounding the preferential voting system.
The panel is expected to submit its recommendations and draft report to Parliament before its revised deadline of September 17, 2026.
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