Karunaratne recommends bringing people from outside Parliament if some members are not capable

The Freedom Alliance Party has recommended that a provision should be made for a political party to bring a certain number of qualified people to Parliament even if they have not contested the elections.

Party leader Jagath Karunaratne recommended this while making a submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights on the electoral bills before the committee this morning.

He says a certain number of seats known as national list should be allocated because some elected members in Parliament do not have the necessary qualifications and are only there because of popularity.

Karunaratne says for example if the number of seats in the proposed national list is 10, then the party which has received 60% votes can appoint up to six members who have not contested the elections.

He says there will be a certain criteria to look into the appointments and parties cannot just bring anyone.

Karunaratne adds there are often debates going on regarding the capabilities of some parliament members.

Karunaratne also says they do not agree with the Electoral Commission being the final arbitrator as there must not be any provision in law that restricts the court from hearing any matter.

He adds the procedural system of seeking a remedy through the legal system must be followed at all times.