‘Repeal 13 A articles’

CHAMIKARA WEERASINGHE

A motion to prevent the merger of two or more Provincial Councils and to enable Parliament to formulate Bills in respect of subjects pertaining to Provincial Councils by obtaining the approval of the majority of Provincial Councils, was adopted by the Uva Provincial Council yesterday.

The motion to repeal two articles in the 13th Amendment, article 154 A (3) to merge two or more Provincial Councils, and to change article 154 (G) that “No Bill in respect of any matter set out in the Provincial Council Lists shall become law” unless approval of every Provincial Council is obtained, with the provision to approve such legislation with the approval of a majority of Provincial Councils, was adopted by a majority vote at the monthly meeting of the Uva Provincial Council, said Uva Provincial Council Governor C. Nanda Mathew. He said the UNP councillors of Uva Province were not present when the motion was discussed at the Council.

“The only JVP councillor of the Uva Provincial Council, Sudath Balagalla abstained from voting,” Governor Mathew said.

The motion was approved with a majority of 19 votes by UPFA councillors.

“Uva Province Youth Affairs and State Infrastructure Minister Senthil Thondaman of the Ceylon Workers Congress did not participate as he is abroad. Councillor Aravinda Kumar of Kandurata Permuna was not present,” the Governor said.

The motion was moved by Uva Provincial Councillor Wimal Galagamaarachchi.

Uva Province Agriculture Minister Anura Vidanagamage, Chamara Samapath Dassanayaka (UPFA), Sudath Balagalla (JVP) and Acting Uvwa Provice Chief Minister M Buddhadasa expressed their views at the Council.