AMENDMENT TO 13TH, IN THE HOUSE

*Cabinet consensus obtained

*PSC to commence sittings on Wednesday

Disna Mudalige

The government has decided to present an amendment to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to Parliament on Tuesday as an urgent Bill, to repeal all Constitutional provisions to merge two or more Provinces.

Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella addressing the Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry auditorium yesterday, said the President’s right to proclaim the merger of Provincial Councils under the 13th Amendment will be repealed making it impossible to merge the Northern and Eastern provinces. He said this decision was taken with the consensus of the Cabinet of Ministers. The minister said the Cabinet also decided to appoint a fresh Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to extensively discuss the other revisions pertaining to the 13th Amendment such as the Constitutional clause that requires the consent of all Provincial Councils to pass nationally important Bills, police and land powers, etc.

He said the members and PSC session schedules will be decided at the Party Leaders’ Meeting with Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa on Tuesday adding that the PSC will commence work from Wednesday.

The minister observed that the freshly constituted PSC would be a valuable opportunity for all parties to come to a settlement on the national issues of the country. He observed there are dissenting views among the public at large on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution since it was not asked for by a majority of people.

He said there had also been a court order against the merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, and former President J. R Jayewardene himself was not ready to proceed on some of these proposals.

The Minister said with over 25 years having elapsed since the introduction of the 3th Amendment, public opinion has emerged that some of these clauses are not valid and suitable for the country in the present era. He said the wrongs of the past should be rectified.

He noted the Cabinet extensively discussed the matters pertaining to the 13th Amendment yesterday and favourable, neutral and opposing views on it were expressed during the meeting.

Responding to a question by a journalist, the minister said the government is confident of securing the two thirds majority for the urgent Bill. He said the government, while respecting all views held by foreign countries, gives priority to public opinion within the country as Sri Lanka is a sovereign nation. He said even though the terrorism was defeated in military terms it still looms in the psychological sphere. He said development and economy related issues have contributed more to the national crisis rather than ethnic issues, adding that Sri Lanka does not have particular ethnic issues. The minister stated that the government is firm in its decision to hold the Northern election in September. Government Information Department Director General Prof Ariyarathna Athugala and News Director Wasanthapriya Ramanayake also participated.