The Opposition has decided to withdraw from the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to examine and report on the electoral system under which Provincial Council elections should be held.

The decision has been taken in protest against the extension of the committee’s term until December 17, 2026.

Speaking in Parliament today (11), Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the committee’s term had been extended until December 17 as additional time was required for it to complete its work.

However, expressing opposition to the decision, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that nine months had now passed since the committee began meeting.  

He said the purpose of the committee was to discuss matters relating to the prompt conduct of Provincial Council elections, and not to postpone the elections.

Accordingly, he said the Opposition had decided not to attend future meetings of the committee.

“The committee has now been meeting for nine months. Looking at its proceedings and the process, we have seen that this is a delaying exercise. We can describe this as a committee established not to hold Provincial Council elections, but to postpone them.

“The Election Commission submitted a proposal in this regard, and we, as Opposition MPs, expressed our agreement with it.

“We are saying that, as the Opposition, we will not return to this committee, which is merely delaying the process and wasting time.”