Minister of Justice and Law Reforms Minister Milinda Moragoda said an opportunity should be given to all Sri Lankan nationals living and working abroad exercise their franchise at elections.

Moragoda, who heads the Sri Lanka National Congress, said that there were over a million Sri Lankans living overseas and they should be given the chance to vote at elections.

"This will help us to test as to how as to how Sri Lankans living overseas feel and what they think about the political environment back at home," he said.

"We should not forget the contribution made by them towards our economy.They earn the much needed foreign exchange for the country, hence they should be made part and parcel of the election process," he said.

This would also allow the Sri Lankan Diaspora to understand the priorities of our country and thereby bring them closer to home, he said.

He pointed out that the Indian Prime Minister had recently emphasised the need to allow Indian expatriates to cast their votes at the next General Elections.