Expert Committee Report on Public Views and Proposals for the Review of Election Laws Submitted to Parliamentary Select Committee
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- October 14, 2026
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The expert committee report on public views and proposals relating to the review of election laws was recently submitted to the “Select Committee of Parliament to review the laws dealing with Elections (excluding laws dealing with Provincial Council Elections) and report to Parliament and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard”.
The report was handed over to the Chairman of the Select Committee, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Prof. A.H.M.H. Abeyrathna, by the expert committee appointed by the Select Committee to review the views and proposals submitted by the public.
The expert committee was appointed to conduct an in-depth review of 31 proposals submitted by members of the public, various institutions and organizations on electoral reforms, together with reports of previous parliamentary select committees appointed to examine election-related matters, and to submit a comprehensive report on its findings.
The members of the expert committee are Mr. Ashoka Peiris, Chairman of the Salaries and Pensions Commission; Mr. Saman Sri Rathnayake, Chairman of the Delimitation Commission; Prof. Chaminda Abeysinghe, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Kelaniya; Dr. K. Thavalingam, Member of the Delimitation Commission; and Ms. P.S.M. Charles, former Governor of the Northern Province.
Commenting on the matter, the Chairman of the Select Committee, Hon. Minister Prof. A.H.M.H. Abeyrathna, stated that separate reports had been prepared and submitted to the committee on the various issues and themes raised by the institutions and organizations that had presented proposals.
He further stated that several registered political parties had also submitted their views and proposals. The Parliamentary Select Committee expects to review all submissions made by the public, various institutions and organizations, as well as political parties, and present an interim report to Parliament within two months.
The Chairman added that, even after the interim report is submitted, citizens and members of the public will be given a further opportunity to submit amendments and new proposals.
Meanwhile, the committee decided to extend by a further two weeks the deadline granted to registered political parties to submit their views and proposals on the review of election-related laws, excluding legislation governing Provincial Council elections.
The committee also emphasized that members of the expert committee appointed to review public submissions would be permitted to submit proposals in their personal capacities, should they wish to do so.
Following the meeting, a media briefing was held under the leadership of the Chairman and committee members to inform the public of the decisions taken by the Select Committee.
Those who attended the committee meeting included committee members Minister Dr. Upali Pannilage; Deputy Ministers Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala and Muneer Mulaffer; and Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Harshana Rajakaruna, J.C. Alawathuwala, Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Chandima Hettiarachchi and Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, among others.
