Sri Lanka’s cabinet approves 20th Amendment with 237 parliamentary seats

June 12, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's cabinet on Friday morning approved a new proposal to the 20th Amendment which increases the number of parliamentary seats to 237 from the current 225.









Under the approved system 145 Parliamentarians will be elected under the first past the post system, 55 under the district proportional representation system and 37 from the national list. When contacted Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance Mano Ganesan told LBO that they are accepting it as a positive sign.





"We are considering this as a first step towards the victory.



But our next demand which requires printing two ballot papers per voter has not been met. So our peaceful protest will be held in the future to meet that demand" Ganesan said. Earlier in the week, the cabinet approved a proposal with 225 Parliamentarians which include 125 elected under the first past the post system, 75 under the proportional representation system and 25 under the national list.



However minority political parties objected the proposal saying they are not getting a fair representation through the approved system.