* SGPC: LSSP, CP members vote for motion
* SPC: Seven UPFA councillors break ranks

June 25, 2013, 9:02 pm

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Amidst a simmering clash between UPFA partners over the fate of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the SLFP-led Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council yesterday threw its weight behind the move to introduce two far reaching changes.

The Southern Provincial Council too, approved the government proposal to amend the 13th Amendment with the majority of one vote, though seven UPFA representatives voted against it.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris recently unveiled the two proposals at a meeting of senior representatives of all UPFA constituents including the EPDP and the SLMC, which strongly opposed both.

Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister Maheepala Herath proposed doing away with the provision which enabled two or more provinces to amalgamate. SLFPer Herath also proposed rescinding the requirement that the consent of all Provincial Councils was necessary for the passage of legislation coming under their purview.

Political sources told The Island that the PC had approved the proposals with a majority of 17 votes with those representing the LSSP and CP too, supporting the amendments. Twenty six members voted for the proposals while nine voted against.

Both, the LSSP as well as CP are campaigning against moves to dilute the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Now that the Sabaragamuwa PC had backed the government move, all other UPFA-controlled PCs would follow suit, sources said. It could be a major issue at the forthcoming elections for the Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces expected to take place in September.

During yesterday’s deliberations at the Sabaragamuwa PC, Opposition member Thusitha Wijemanne warned the government that the country would have to face the consequences of diluting the 13th amendment to the constitution. She asserted that the government would incur international opprobirum. She asked whether the government would implement the 17th amendment to the Constitution.

Responding to Wijemanne, CM Herath said that the provision that two or more provinces could amalgamate, on their own, was inimical to the national interest. He went on to say that even the other provision promoted separatism and had to be done away with.

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