PCs, AN UTTER FAILURE - MEP

*Proved to be ineffective and redundant

*New district based system should be evolved

Chaminda Perera

Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) leader and Chief Government Whip Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday said his party viewed the Provincial Council system to be an utter failure.

He added that the Provincial Council system has proved ineffective and redundant -- and said a new system based on the district should be evolved to ensure that administrative and political power is delegated to the grass-roots level.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo to announce the MEP’s stand on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, Minister Gunawardena said his party as a key ally of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government is of the view that the Legislature lost its supremacy due to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and all its provisions which undermined the supremacy of the legislature -- and should therefore be abolished forthwith.

Minister Gunwardena said free health and education services deteriorated due to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

“The MEP appreciates the government’s attempt to abolish all provisions in the Constitution that are leading to clashes between the Central government and the Provincial Councils. “The MEP has tabled a set of proposals for a system based on the district for the administration and development and reorganization of the government structure,” he said.

He said the country’s development will never be hampered due to the abolition of Provincial Councils in the country. the Minister opined that the country has seen massive development due to numerous projects launched by the Central Goverment and the district administrative system is also playing a vigorous role for the development of country. “The country’s development will never be hampered in the absence of Provincial Council system”, he said. The democratic people in the country expect a change in the 13th Amendment to the Constitution for which they empowered the government with a 233 majority.

Minister Gunawardena said the 13th Amendment to the Constitution is illegal document as five out of 09 Supreme Court Judges upheld that it was inconsistent with the Constitution.

The merger of North and the East is detrimental to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Provisions enshrined in the 13th Amendment to the Constitution has undermined the supremacy of the Legislature.

“The clauses in the 13th Amendment are contradictory and the supremacy of the Legislature has deteriorated due to the 13th Amendment on which the Provincial Council system was set up.