SCRAP THE PCs NOW! - NFF

*13th Amendment, a time bomb

* Fate of Divineguma Bill shows its dangerous impact

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The National Freedom Front (NFF) and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) called on all Sri Lankans to join them to pressure the government to abolish the Provincial Council system.

Addressing the media at the Library Services Board Auditorium yesterday, NFF leader and Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa said the government has so far not decided whether or not to abolish the Provincial Council system.

The fate of the Divineguma

Bill goes to prove the negative aspect of the Provincial Council system, he said.

"The 13th amendment to the constitution, which introduced the Provincial Councils to the country is not a suitable system for Sri Lanka. It was a system forced on us by coercion and PCs were set up in an undemocratic manner," the minister said.

Weerawansa said the 13th amendment to the constitution is a time bomb waiting to explode.

He requested the public not to let it explode.

"The 13th amendment to the constitution and the establishment of the Provincial Council system were done under pressure from India following the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement to establish peace and normality in Sri Lanka. But that purpose has not been fulfilled," the minister said.

Weerawansa said the 13th amendment would be a great threat to national security and would result in a federal governing structure where powers are devolved to the provinces.

Therefore, the government has to take a firm decision to abolish the 13th amendment, he said.

JHU leader and Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said the Provincial Council system created a harmful impact on national security, threatened the unitary character of the country and retarded the development effort. He said the 13th amendment was introduced without any lengthy dialogue on the issue and as a result of the absence of an in depth analysis of the system, many serious problems cropped up.

"The international community cannot take decisions on behalf of the people of this country. The Tamil National Alliance is refusing to participate in the Parliamentary Select Committee proposed by the government to devolve power. They are taking the problem before the international community without holding discussions with the country's leaders," he said The minister said the government was now implementing a programme to decentralize power to the grassroots level.