They said the government is studying the structure of Madurai Corporation where the commissioner has all powers as the Chief executive of the Council which comprises the elected members is one department of the corporation controlled by the Commissioner.

He said the discussions between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the second round of talks that followed between the two groups were fruitful.

Both groups reached consensus on some major issues such as the abolishing the executive presidency and the setting up of the post of executive prime minister; to do away with the PR system and to reintroduce the first-past-the-post system and the ward system where applicable.

“We expect to arrive at a final decision as early as possible. We like to introduce these proposals tomorrow if possible. However, we feel there must be a broader consensus among all the political parties, the people and all other stakeholders to this national issue. As such we expect a healthy and genuine dialogue before presenting the electoral and constitutional reforms in parliament, the minister said.

He said the government expected an active and pragmatic approach from the UNP, the JVP and the TNA in carrying this process forward.

“We have a real chance this time as there is a broader agreement from almost all sections of society,” he said.

Commenting on the 17th amendment, Minister De Silva said the government was for the independent commissions.

“We can discuss and arrive at a consensus on the powers to be vested with the executive prime minister, his term of office and the way he or she must contest at elections. We have agreed that the executive prime minister must sit in parliament, be answerable and accountable to it,” he added.

The Commissioner is appointed by the government.

Several former ruling party members of the CMC said this possibility had been looked at by the government with the objective of a speedy development of Colombo.

Colombo Municipal Special Administrator Omar Kamil commenting on the matter said he was unaware of any such move but said the government was looking at various options to make the council effective with the speedy development of the city.

The CMC suspended earlier was dissolved in June this year but nothing mentioned about elections.

UNP Deputy Leader and former Colombo Mayor Karu Jayasuriya told Daily Mirror 10 years ago discussions were held on establishing a large cooperation amalgamating Colombo, Dehiwala and Kotte, but it never materialized.

He said he was unaware of any fresh moves to convert CMC into a corporation. Asked whether the matter had cone up during the bipartisan talks between the UNP and the government, he said it was not discussed at all. He said such a move should be implemented after the local government elections are held now that both parties have agreed to change the local government electoral system.(DM)