6 December, 2024

Blog

20A Shall Be Rejuvenated Through Local Government Elections

By Sujata Gamage

Dr. Sujata Gamage

Dr. Sujata Gamage

Amendment 20 sought to introduce a mixed member method of electing parliamentarians. Few people seem to be aware that we already have a mixed member electoral system in place for local government.

An Act to amend the local government elections using a mixed member method was passed in 2012, largely away from the eyes of media and civil society. The January 2016 election may give Sri Lankans their first taste of a mixed member election, since, as we just found out, the upcoming Parliamentary election is to be held under the present PR system with preferential voting.

It is just as well, because if the present 20th Amendment was approved in a hurry, it is very likely we would have ended up with more MPs than we need.

225-to-237-to-255 and beyond – the numbers game

During a public meeting held on March 2nd to discuss various options in electoral reform, we learned that the original 140+70+15=225 formula with a limit of 225 seats proposed in 200t interim report of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms would be difficult to implement in the short time frame envisaged at that time. As reverend Sobitha Thero very eloquently put, we had to cook the reform roti while the 100-day pan was hot.

Sri_Lanka_Elections-2013However, once the seat limits were relaxed, it became this floating number with no limit. The Cabinet may have compromised at 237, but, the behind the scene negotiations to implement 20A at any cost seem to be heading towards 255 or beyond.

Can we really afford to have more MPs? What is the minimum need and what for?

How many MPs for what?

Candidate Maithripala Sirisena has promised a member for every electorate, but, let’s face it, what do people really want from MPs? What people really mean by an MP is a job-agent who will create more government jobs or interfere with hiring processes in government in order to bring government jobs to them. As somebody mentioned, a second important function is to hijack loved-ones from police custody and a third is to serve as conduits of wasteful handouts from government. All these impose additional costs on tax payers and compromise the governing process. The true role of a parliamentarian is to pass legislation and approve and exercise oversight over the budget, foreign treaties and the functions of the executive and the state departments and agencies.

A local government based solution

As somebody who has been working with local government for the last seven years, I have watched with dismay the centrist attitude of most policy analysts and policy makers. If we apply the subsidiarity principle to the Sri Lankan context, only what cannot be done by local government and the provincial councils should be delegated to the higher levels. By implication, the type and the size of the layers of government should be determined from the bottom up.

If the voters really want a representative to call their own, the new mixed member system for local government has increased the number of local council members from 5000 to 7000 for 345 local government authorities, at a rate of one council member for little over 2000 voters, and one chairman for 43,000 voters. In addition, the 450 or so provincial councillors lead to one provincial representative for 30,000 voters.

It is irresponsible to play numbers games with the size of the Parliament without considering the true functions of a parliamentarian and representation at the other levels of government.

So it is just as well that 20A gets delayed because the delay allows us to correct for the hitherto centrist approach to constitutional amendment and discuss the optimum ratio of Parliamentarians to Provincial Councilors and Local Council Chairman within a power pyramid with a wide base of 7000 local councilors. A starting point for a discussion could be a long term goal of 350 local chairpersons to 250 provincial councilors to 150 parliamentarians, for example.

Beyond the parliamentary election

At this point when the same old Manape pore is shaping up for the upcoming election to be held on August 17th, the first priority for civil society is to ensure that the Pore is minimized and upcoming election is as civilized as possible. The March 12th movement is a good start but other modalities need to be worked out.

However, if you are interested in electoral reforms, you need to keep an eye on the local election to follow and play a role in shaping the form and the implementation of the relevant Act and Section 22 therein in particular.

Latest comments

  • 0
    0

    Well said Sujatha. We really do not even need 225 MPs if they stick to their strict duties.

    Less fellowa to mess up is better for the country.

  • 0
    0

    Dr. Sujata Gamage

    “It is just as well, because if the present 20th Amendment was approved in a hurry, it is very likely we would have ended up with more MPs than we need.”

    Yes. More MPS than we need and more MPS who have failed the GCE OL and more MPSs with IQs close to 65.

    MaRa MaRa Chatu Mara Amana MaRa and his Shills will again crows the Parliament..

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pfpgn_Y7-w

  • 0
    0

    The forthcoming parliamentary election may be the costliest of all – to the contestants – as expressed by the Commissioner of Elections.

    http://www.economynext.com/Sri_Lanka_national_polls_cost_may_be_equal_to_campaigning_in_one_district-3-2195-10.html

    Only those who have millions of (undeclared) ‘black money’ will be able to contest, in most electorates.
    In other words, those who spend the most will identify themselves, as the most corrupt.
    It is good that the number of MPs will remain at 225.

  • 0
    2

    Very thought provoking article.

    What Sri Lanka should do is to go through a restitution process to bring back the Soulberry Constitution the British gave to successfully resuscitate the honour and pride of Sri Lanka.

    • 2
      0

      NirmalaN

      You are mad.

  • 0
    0

    Dr Sujata,

    I agree that we have to take up the issues mentioned by you as a priority.
    However there are problems.

    You have to define the role of a member of parliament, member of a provincial Council and a member of a local Authority based on the principle of subsidiary.

    It is true that at present the roles are not clearly defined. Whether it is defined or not, what happens ultimately at the grassroots level will determine the expected role as far as the people are concerned and the elected representatives will do his utmost to satisfy that expected role by winning elections by adopting various tactics.

    The Member of Parliament as a legislator and a watchdog over the budget,
    and the minister as a policy maker are good in theory and is the ideal.

    Whatever it may be, as you mention we have the Local Authorities
    Elections( Amendment ) Act No 22 of 2012 which deals a mixed electoral system combining FPP and proportional representation.

    But the FPP is not within the proportional representation system unlike what was proposed under 20A.

    My question is why we should have a party system in the local authority level in terms of the principle of subsidiarity, since policy making will not be under the purview of the local authorities and the elections could be held exclusively on FPP and the proportional system cold be done away with.

    We can have only ward members.
    we need revision of Act No 22 of 2012 as a priority act of the newly elected parliament and have a trial run before altering the method of elections in the provincial Coumncils and parliament.

  • 0
    0

    Yes, what you failed in the 20A was achieved for the LGs. Your attempt at the JHU agenda succeeded, but wait until you see how groups will manipulate the system. What you fail to understand is that you have messed up, and thank god it didnt happen for the parliament.

  • 0
    0

    Sri-Krish:
    Yes, you are right. The Local government Elections ACt 2012 is a MMM based,where as what came to the fore as 20A was MMP-based. Sadly nobody noticed the difference.
    You make a good point about elections to local councils being exclusively FPP with little role for parties. Hopefully we can initiate a dialog on these issues soon after the general election.

    Sujata

Leave A Comment

Comments should not exceed 200 words. Embedding external links and writing in capital letters are discouraged. Commenting is automatically disabled after 5 days and approval may take up to 24 hours. Please read our Comments Policy for further details. Your email address will not be published.