The General Election should also be held under the mixed electoral system which was introduced to the Pradeshiya Saba and the Provincial Councils, said Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva today.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is of the view that the priority should be given to change the electoral system since it was one of the main objectives of the SLFP to join to set up a unity government.
He made this observation after Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe presented the Interim Report of the Steering Committee before the Constitutional Assembly met at the Main Chamber of the House of Parliament.
Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva stated that the SFFP discussed long on the content of the report. He added that the SLFP suggested that first to ninth clauses of the Constitution should be kept unchanged.
He also added that the SLFP discussed specially on the pages from 29 to 37 in the report and Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe's move to allow all the parties to express their views was commendable.
"The SLFP and the UPFA supported the 19th amendment to the Constitution on the basis that the 20 Amendment should be amended," Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.
He added that the SLFP agrees with introducing a senate.
"We suggest that there should be 19 and two members of the senate should be given Cabinet Ministries to strengthen it," Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.
"SLFP also suggests that the Ministerial portfolios should be limited to 30 while the deputies to 30 as well."
He said further that the Executive Presidency should be maintained to a certain extent for the security of the country.
He added that the President should be elected with the votes of people of all religions and communities to build up reconciliation.
"The SLFP also maintains that the Prime Minister should be elected under the Westminister System," Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.