Majority prefer devolution - Survey

Rasika SOMARATHNA

COLOMBO: A recent survey indicated that there was a consensus among public on power devloution, with only 10 per cent of respondents rejecting any form of devolution, including the existing provincial council system.

The deliberative poll with a sample of 1800, carried out by the Marga Institute in collaboration with the National Peace Council in 18 districts, has brought out the people’s attitudes by equipping them with better information of the relevant issues, sources said.

According to the organisers this was the first time that a deliberative poll had been conducted in Sri Lanka, where the respondents were subjected to all important information, leading to a better understanding of the relevant issues, before seeking their opinion.

According to the results which was released recently as many as 95 per cent had agreed that the political solution should be just and fair to all communities, and it should guarantee equal rights to all citizens in all parts of the country.

Another important finding had been that 70 per cent had agreed to accept devolution close to a federal system, if it was a three tier system and brought the Government close to the people by giving adequate power to the political institutions at the local and the community level.

The responses by the ethnic groups to systems of devolution had showed that there was a preference for the familiar present system with some enhancement of fundamental rights for all regardless of race or religion.