• Current electoral system cannot ensure even mandatory 25%
• 46 LG bodies yet to meet women’s representation requirement
• SC appeal filed over ruling favouring male councillors

The Election Commission (EC) has warned that increasing the mandatory women's representation at Provincial Council (PC) and Local Government (LG) Elections to 33 per cent is not feasible under the current electoral system, revealing that 46 LG Bodies have failed to meet even the existing 25per cent quota.

The remarks came after the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus proposed raising the minimum quota for women at PC and LG Elections from the current 25 per cent to 33 per cent, alongside broader electoral reforms to improve female representation.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, EC Chairperson, R M A L Rathnayake said the entire electoral framework would have to be revised if the women's quota is to be increased to 33 per cent.

"The entire system has to change to accommodate such a proposal. At present, there are 46 LG Institutions where it has not been possible to ensure the mandatory 25per cent women's representation. Under the existing method of calculating representation, even achieving the current 25 per cent quota is difficult."

He also revealed that six female councilors, who have been elected under the current 25per cent quota, have still not been appointed to the respective LG Bodies due to unresolved legal issues. "A political party has filed court actions relating to two LG Councils. Under the relevant law, three of the vacant seats in each of those two Councils, making a total of six seats, should be filled by women. However, the Court of Appeal (CA) ruled that male councillors should be appointed to those six positions. We have already appealed that decision before the Supreme Court (SC)." Following the CA ruling, Rathnayake said that several political parties have also requested the EC to appoint male councillors in place of female councillors who have already been appointed to certain LG Institutions. "That is the situation that we are facing. It is difficult enough to achieve the existing level of women's representation, let alone increase it further."

The Caucus recently called for urgent policy and legal reforms to ensure that women receive greater representation at PC and LG Elections by increasing the minimum quota to 33per cent. The proposal was discussed at a meeting chaired by Women and Child Affairs Minister and Caucus Chairperson Saroja Savithri Paulraj. The Caucus proposed legal provisions requiring women to make up at least one-third of both nomination lists and elected representatives. Members also agreed to hold discussions with the EC and explore options including reserved seats for women and changes through a mixed electoral system.