Under the present P.R. system the preferential voting seems to be a problem. I think the vast majority of the voters are against this. I suggest the following steps to do away with it. Even at the forthcoming election on the December 5th this can be done by agreement among the contesting political parties. I am certain it will be unanimous.

(a) Deposit with the Commissioner of Elections a list of candidates seeking election to parliament according to alphabetical order.

(b) The party leadership to determine the members of parliament on the performance at the election in their electorates. The candidate that gets a majority in any electorate should be the first choice. If there is a clash between the number of members elected and a particular electorate, the per centage of the valid votes obtained by any candidate should determine the desired member on the basis of popularity.

The leadership should avoid favouritism and be impartial in selecting members.
D. H. W. Opatha
Moratuwa