May 31, 2013, 8:03 pm

Provincial Councils were set up during the J. R. Jayewardene regime as forced down by the then Indian government led by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated by the LTTE. Perhaps the then UNP regime was compelled to accept the Provincial Councils concept under duress. (I stand to be corrected if I am wrong in that regard). The SUP and the JVP opposed Provincial Councils at that time and boycotted the first Provincial Council election.


It cannot be denied that the LTTE led by Prabhakaran resorted to ethnic cleansing especially in the North and the Sinhalese and Muslims living there were driven out. There was also an exodus of Tamils from the North to the South, during the 30 years of LTTE terrorism in this country. Hence, the status quo should be restored by resettling those who were forced to flee the Jaffna peninsula etc. by the LTTE which is yet to be done.


On the other hand, our experience is that Provincial Councils have served no useful purpose and have only produced a large number of undisciplined and corrupt politicians. It is also not wrong to say that the running of the Provincial Councils is a drain on the country's exchequer. The danger of foreign countries dealing direct with the Provincial Councils for purposes of destabilizing the country cannot also be ruled out.


Then again, the size of our country! Tamil Nadu itself is larger than Sri Lanka and the concentrations of religious and ethnics are such that Provincial Councils will cause problems in the long run and will not serve the interests of national unity.


I am, as such, of the considered view that Provincial Councils should be done away with.


Upali S. Jayasekera


Rajagiriya

island.lk