COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickramasinghe says that he intends to reduce the number of members of local Government bodies prior to the next election.The Presidential Media Division said that accordingly, the number of members of local councils, municipal councils and urban councils should be reduced from 8,000 to 4,000.The President's Media Division added that the President also intends to implement the Jana Sabha program.The President has also said that executive power of the Pradeshiya Sabhas should be given to a chairman-based committees instead of a single chairman, and draft laws will be prepared to incorporate these amendments prior to the next local government elections.Pointing out that the main cause for political corruption is the preferential system, President Wickremesinghe said that a non-preferential list system or a mixed electoral system should be adopted and restrictions should be imposed by the election law on the amount spent on elections.Furthermore, during a meeting with professionals held at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (09), President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that a proposal would be made to appoint a Parliament Select Committee to decide on the parliamentary voting system, and if this select committee fails to come up with a decision by July next year, a referendum would be held. .