PSC ALONE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE

* Government will abide by Select Committee recommendations

* NP polls on schedule

Ishara Mudugamuwa and Dharma Sri Abeyratne

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has reiterated that any amendments to the Constitution would be made through a decision of the Paliamentary Select Committee and by no other process.

The government has not taken any decision to amend the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa added.

Presiding at the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department Auditorium yesterday, Minister Yapa said the elections to the Northern Provincial Council would be held in September as decided by the government earlier, and this would not change. “The North is a part of our country. The Northern Provincial Council is a similar administrative unit to the Provincials Councils operational in the country elsewhere right now,” the minister said.

He said in an election one party would win, and automatically, the rest become the parties that comprise the Opposition. “We are not concerned who would win the election. We are keen to hold elections under the provisions of the Constitution,” the minister said.

“We are aware that the Tamil National Alliance is not in favour of the proposed amendment to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. We assure that whatever change is decided by the Select Committee will be adhered to by the government.”

Minister Yapa recalled that the Provincial Council system was introduced to the country as a result of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord signed by the UNP regime.

“Right from the inception, there were a number political parties which opposed the introduction of the Provincial Council system to the country.”

He said certain provision included in the Provincial Council system did not suit a country like Sri Lanka.

“ We are a small country,” Yapa said.