Sri Lanka must either retain its provincial councils (PCs) with powers adequately devolved as provided for by the 13th amendment to the constitution or abolish the PC system entirely, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said.
At an all-party conference (APC) called by Wickremesinghe on Wednesday July 26 to discuss the full implementation of the 13th amendment as a solution to Sri Lanka’s decades-long ethnic issue, he said as president he has no authority to pass laws and it is up to parliament to do so.
Citing common criticisms of the PC system, Wickremesinghe said provincial councils drain a lot of state funds as the central government, the PCs and even local government bodies are allocated vast amounts of money for essentially the same.
“It would be great if we can reduce this amount by 25 percent. There is a mix up here. We allocate funds to the government, to the PCs and to the local government bodies to dig ditches when it can be given to just one of them,” said Wickremesinghe.
“It has to be one of the two. We have to either keep the PCs or remove them. All political parties went into elections saying the system must be retained. So I can’t come here and say abolish it,” he said.
The president said when he proposed the full implementation of the 13th amendment, the matter of sharing police powers was raised. The fact of the matter, however, is new police legislation would need to be introduced before police powers are dissolved to the provinces, he said.
“The minister is now formulating that,” he said, presumably referring to either Public Security Minister Tiran Alles or Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.
If Sri Lanka is to continue the PC system, said Wickremesinghe, provincial councils must be maintained properly. Given the friction between the councils and the central government, he said, no adequate development activity has been carried out even in the Sinhalese-majority seven provinces either in 10 to 15 years.
“There was more work done when there were district development councils,” he said.
However, noting that provincial councils cannot be abolished just like that as the system is now well entrenched, President Wickremesinghe said he called the all party conference to discuss the full implementation of the India-backed 13th amendment, which resulted in the birth of the PC system in 1987.
“People say this is a white elephant. We must focus and give an answer. Everyone is trying to avoid this issue,” he said.
Chief ministers and opposition leaders in the seven PCs not including the northern and eastern provincial councils, said the president, has submitted a report indicating support for increased power sharing.
“If that’s not good, then they’re all traitors too who want to divide the country,” he said.
“Let’s not play this game, which we have been playing all this time,” he added.
“I have no mandate to bring these laws. It is the parliament that has the mandate to pass laws. All I can do is present them. Let’s speak the truth. Let’s decide whether we want to give this or not.
“If you don’t want this to be implemented, then remove the 13th amendment entirely. You can’t be in two minds about this saying you want this but not that,” he said, adding that the PC system is a “heavy burden” financially.
Another APC will likely be called in one month’s time, prior to which a decision must be reached, said Wickremesinghe.
“Or we’ll make draft bills and present them to parliament,” he said.
Another proposal made, according to the president, is to allow members of parliament to contest for PCs while retaining their parliamentary seat and vice versa.
“If the people want, opposition MPs can become CMs of PCs. They can come to parliament and sit in the opposition as CM. We can go for that too.”
“Like other countries, let’s devolve power to all nine provinces. The work is already done in the other seven. I can’t do this on my own. I have only one vote. You have the ultimate power,” he said.
A statement from the president’s office said on Thursday July 27 that Wickremesinghe had stressed the significance of discussing the 13th amendment with all parties, as it is a matter that affects the entire country, noting that a decision on this matter should involve input from all relevant parties.
The APC was organised to update parliament’s party leaders on the National Reconciliation Program and the North-East Development Plan, the statement said.
Shortcomings in PCs must be addressed, the president was quoted as saying, suggesting that the PCs be granted powers over subjects currently under the central government, including grassroots activities like agriculture and tourism.
The central government should formulate policies for the country, while provincial councils should provide the necessary facilities for the successful implementation of development activities in all fields. Collaboration between all parties and levels of government was crucial for progress and development, he said.
Sri Lanka’s main opposition party and a number of other parties joined the APC while a few smaller parties boycotted the event.