The National Movement for a Just Society never propagates postponing elections, said its chairman Karu Jayasuriya.
He was speaking at a dialogue on a new electoral system held in Colombo on 12 February.
Jayasuriya said at the same time that the Movement’s stand remains unchanged about the need to abolish the executive presidency.
All presidential candidates should declare their stand with regard to this, he insisted.
MP Prof. G.L. Peiris told the gathering that the Movement wants the executive presidency abolished only after the presidential election is held this year.
MP Rajitha Senaratne called for an end to the preferential voting system that leads politicians to corruption.
Its place should be taken by a mixed system that aligns with democracy, he added.
SJB MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara commended the Movement’s proposal for a zonal system for elections.
He said however that discussing a new electoral system with presidential polls at hand was questionable.
MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa was of the opinion that the first-past-the-post system was the most democratic electoral system.
A parliament that pleases everyone is not possible, he said.
Other speakers on the occasion included former election chief Mahinda Deshapriya, UPF’s Satish Kumar, Bishop Asiri Perera and the Movement’s general secretary Sunil Jayasekara.
