Thu, Jun 27, 2013, 10:20 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 27, Colombo: Leader of the government coalition party Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP), Minister of Water Supply and Drainage Dinesh Gunawardena said his party will support the government to bring changes to existing provincial council system.
Addressing a press briefing held in Colombo today, the Minister said the he and his party will unite with other forces to struggle against the 13th Amendment to the Constitution both within the parliament and out of it.
The Chief Government Whip said the 13th amendment of the constitution had become a threat to the defense, integrity and existence of the nation. He added that the Provincial Councils are a waste of public money and had become a total failure.
"The 13th Amendment was approved illegally during its time and that the speaker of parliament who signed it had immediately requested the Supreme Court to abolish it," Minister Gunawardena said. However, the Supreme Court rejected the Speaker's request at that time, he recalled.
The provincial council system has created problems in implementing programs in free education, free health and other areas, he noted.
The Minister further stated that even 25 years after the implementation of the Provincial Councils, the base of development of the country is still the district.
He pointed out that the development programs in the country will not be impacted by abolishing the provincial councils since the programs are usually implemented through parliamentarians representing Districts and Government Agents and not by the Provincial Councils.
Minister Gunawardena suggested adopting a method to provide more powers to the local government institutions of the lower level.
The Minister said his party will extend support to the government measures to remove certain clauses in the Constitution regarding the provincial councils. He said it is the expectation of the Sri Lankan people to see a change in the system.