He was speaking at a media briefing in Colombo today (29).

Commenting on the much talked of Local Council polls, MP Silva said that they propose to hold these elections on time. If the new system is an obstruction, it should not be implemented somehow or the other.

Therefore, the election should be held under the old system, he added.

However, if a new system is implemented, the public mandate should be clearly indicated. Any errors should be addressed properly, he added.

Meanwhile, later in the day, government spokesman - minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that the upcoming Local Government Election will be held in June next year under a new mixed electoral system.

Speaking at a media briefing, he added that the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, regarding electoral reform, will be tabled in Parliament and passed before the election and this would ensure that the Local Government Election and all elections that follow would be held under this new electoral system.

The minister said the next Local Government Election will be the first election that would no longer feature the preferential voting system.

He further added that the mixed electoral system would also be implemented at future provincial council and general elections in the coming years.

Earlier this month, President Maithripala Sirisena extended the term of local government bodies by a further six months.