The Tamil National parties has yesterday submitted proposals to the President for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment Act.
They personally met the President’s Adviser Professor Asu Marasinghe and handed over the proposals.
The alliance consisting of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), Democratic People’s Liberation Front (DPLF), Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), Tamil National Party (TNP) and the Democratic Crusaders Party (DCP) noted that the 13A has already been incorporated into the constitution in 1988 with a majority in the Parliament.
“Since then Provincial Councils have been established in the entire country, elections held and functioned until dissolved for holding elections,” they said.
“Therefore it is not necessary to invite for views to implement what is already available and part of the constitution,” the group added. The alliance noted that while certain Provincial Council powers vested under 13A have systematically been withdrawn periodically from time to time, they proposed those powers withdrawn from Provincial Councils be reinstated and the 13A be implemented in its original form with land, police, finance and administrative powers.
1.Already in 1988, 13A was incorporated in the Constitution with 5/6 majority in Parliament.
2.Since then Provincial Councils were established across the country, elections were held and functioned until they were dissolved to hold elections.
3.So there is no need to call for opinions to implement what already exists and is part of the Constitution.
However, some of the provincial council powers conferred under 13A were systematically withdrawn from time to time.
It is stated that we propose to implement 13A in its original form with land, police, financial and administrative powers by restoring those powers which were recovered from the Provincial Councils.
