Majority does not approve 13th Amendment:

‘Government, a people oriented regime’

Disna Mudalige

The government has proven through its conduct that it is a people-oriented regime and not a pawn subservient to any international pressure, Western Provincial Council Agriculture, Agrarian Development, Minor Irrigation, Industries and Environment Minister and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Legal Adviser, Udaya Gammanpila said.

Commenting on the government's decision to amend the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, he said the majority did not approve the 13th Amendment.

Gammanpila said the Indo-Lanka Accord was illegal as it was not signed with mutual agreement of the two countries. He observed former President J. R. Jayewardena, who signed it on behalf of Sri Lanka, too had expressed his disapproval on the merger of Northern and Eastern Provincial Councils.

He noted the decision to reconsider the 13th Amendment, which could not be proceeded for 26 years, was a brave decision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He observed the country could be saved from terrorism due to a brave decision of the President to give priority for national security over international standpoint. He noted amending the 13th Amendment before the Northern Provincial Council Election is essential to preserve the hard-won peace.

“Some claim that we have an international obligation to go for a power devolution. No country has the right to instruct our country on power devolution. I ask from those who insist on power devolution in our country to look at France, Japan or Norway. None of those countries have any power devolution mechanism.

We should not give way to the attempts by West ern powers to weaken small nations and to divide them by triggering disharmony among communities, thus creating a market for the weapons and ammunition they produce. History has proven that the country was negatively impacted at most of the times we agreed to their suggestions” he remarked.

The minister made these comments at two events held recently. One event was held at the Ravathawatte Sarvodaya Vishava Samadhi hall to distribute CFL bulbs free among 700 families in Moratuwa, and the other event was held at the Western Province Agrarian Services Authority to open a new Agrarian Centre constructed at a cost of Rs. 22 million.