The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of a committee to study particulars relevant to amending and formulating laws to enable Sri Lankans living overseas to vote in elections.
As per the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the right to vote is reserved only for citizens living within Sri Lanka and who have registered their names in the electoral register as per the elections law.
According to the current election law, there is no provision to secure any method to allow citizens living overseas to vote, nor has a law been formulated in this regard.
Many Asian countries, such as India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, have formulated legal strategies to enable their citizens overseas to cast votes, and it has been recognized as a timely requirement to amend such laws for Sri Lanka as well.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved taking actions by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments to appoint a committee to study particulars relevant to amending laws and formulation of new laws to safeguard voting rights of citizens overseas.
The committee will comprise officials in the Elections Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments, as well as other Ministries and institutions. (Newswire)
