Sports, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Faizer Musrapha said the government would not hold the Provincial Council election under the old electoral system, at any cost. 

Addressing a press conference in Colombo yesterday, the Minister said the old electoral system was not suitable to Sri Lanka and it was the main reason for the 'corrupt political culture' in the country. 

The new system, the Minister added, introduced peoples representatives who are responsible for their electorates and answerable to their voters. 

"Both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe promised to introduced a new electoral system. They cannot move away from that promise now," Mustapha said.

"Therefore, I have to make it clear that the Provincial Council election will not take place under the old system," he added. 

Contrary to the Minister's statement, both the UNP and the Joint Opposition have stated that they are ready to face the PC election under any system. 

"We just need the election. We don't care about the system," JO Parliamentarian Bandula Gunawardena said addressing a recent public meeting.  

However, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said last week that the government would appoint a five member committee to make recommendations on holding the PC election. 

Mustapha has come under fire for voting against the report of the delimitation commission which he himself presented to Parliament.