Sri Lanka to cut down number of local councillors

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe says he hopes to slash the number of local government councilors by 50% from 8000 to 4000 before the next election.

“Prior to the next election, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he intends to reduce the number of council members for local government bodies (Pradeshiya Sabhas, Municipal Councils, Urban Councils) from 8000 to 4000 and also implement the Jana Sabha program” PMD said in a statement.

“The executive power of the Pradeshiya Sabhas should be given to a chairman-based committee instead of a single chairman and draft laws will be prepared to incorporate these amendments prior to the next local government elections, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said” PMD added.

Pointing out that the main cause for political corruption is the preferential system, President Wickremesinghe said that a non-preferential list system or a mixed electoral system should be immediately adopted and restrictions should be imposed by the election law on the amount of money spent on elections. (PMD)