🗳️ Sri Lanka Election Law Review: 5 Key Areas for Electoral Reform

A Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), chaired by Public Administration Minister Prof. A.H.M.H. Abayarathna, is actively reviewing Sri Lanka's election laws to strengthen democratic accountability. Key reform areas highlighted based on current consultations: • Candidate Selection & Dynasties: Current nominations are centralized under Colombo-based party leadership, fostering political dynasties. The report recommends decentralizing candidate selection to the regional level through democratic local ballots. • National List & Bonus Seats: National List MPs make up ~13% of Parliament without direct election. The review calls for reforming National List and bonus seat formulas, which currently alter proportional vote values, favor winning parties, and weaken the opposition. • MP Recall Mechanism: Proposes a system to recall elected representatives under strict conditions, mirroring models like the UK (where a 10% constituent signature threshold triggers a by-election) to ensure ongoing accountability. • Eligibility & Misconduct: Advocates for minimum eligibility standards, including literacy and competency requirements, alongside strict, consistent rules regarding financial misconduct, corruption, and criminal convictions. • Party Registration: Recommends addressing the high volume of political parties operating for "electoral convenience and business" while keeping the formation process accessible to genuine, non-divisive movements.