Salutary results after N-E demerger - Minister A.L.M. Athaullah

By P. Krishnasamy

The Provincial Council system from its inception proved to be an effective mechanism for devolution of power. It has helped local communities to share power and implement regional development programs for the benefit of the communities, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister A.L.M. Athaullah told the Sunday Observer in an interview.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the UPFA Government are in the process of holding consultations and discussions on ways and means of addressing the various shortcomings that have been expressed from time to time by different political parties on want of more powers to the PCs. This would be done either under the existing PC system or any other home-grown devolution system that the Government may deem fit in the future, he said. Although the PC system has remained non-implementational in the Northern province due to the long drawn out war, the Provincial Council that was established in the Eastern province in May 2008 after its de-merger from the North, has had very salutary results in all aspects of development and, above all, an atmosphere conducive for all the three communities to live in peace and harmony has been brought about, Minister Athaullah said.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: You always voiced for the de-merger of the East from the North and establishment of two separate PCs for the two provinces.

This was done and a separate PC for the East was established in May 2008 and you are now the Minister of Local Government and PCs. Your observation of the PC administration and its achievements?

A: Since its inception the Eastern PC has implemented many development programs in co-ordination with the Centre and has achieved much in empowering the local communities and in providing assistance for them to return to their professions, including fisheries and agriculture. Thousands of acres of paddy lands that remained dormant have been brought under cultivation.

Above all, all three communities are now living in peace and amity. There prevails an atmosphere for them to take recourse to mutual discussions to resolve any problems.

Q: Future elections to the PCs and the local government bodies, especially the Pradeshiya Sabhas, are to be held under the new electoral system which is basically first-past-the-post system. Don't you think that the new system will be detrimental to proportionate representation of the minorities?

A: As at present, elections under the new system are to be held only to Pradeshiya Sabhas and other local government bodies. The Government has proposals to hold elections under the first-past-the-post system, combined with the PR system, in an effort to do away with the 'Manaape' system (Preferential voting) which has been the cause for unprecedented levels of internal conflicts and clashes within political parties. There is also the disadvantage of voters being unable to identify the representative belonging to their area. This is so in the case of parliamentarians and elected representatives of local government bodies.

There are all possibilities that representation of the minority communities living outside the North and East would be affected under the new system of elections.President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Economic Development Minister and Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa, the other authorities concerned and myself are now focusing on the process of demarcating borders of the areas under the administration of local government bodies so as to ensure the proportionate representation of the minority communities in the local government bodies.

Q: Reservations have been expressed by the Government over devolution of police powers to the PCs. Your comments please?

A: Views have been expressed for and against this issue. My personal view is that giving police powers to nine provinces of our small country will be detrimental to the overall security of the country . The Government is now in the process of holding consultations on devolving more powers on a regional level. I believe a consensus will be reached on these issues at the appropriate stage in the future.

Q: Will elections be held in the near future to the several local government bodies in the Northern Province to which elections were not held for many years?

A: That is a matter to be decided by the Government and the Elections Department.

But very shortly I will be convening a meeting of the political leaders and the concerned government officials in the North in to discuss matters relating to the ground situation and other related matters.

Q: The Chief Ministers' Forum last year voiced its concern over non-devolution of many powers that are due to the PCs under the 13th Amendment. Do you think such powers will be devolved to the PCs in the future?

A: The President, Minister Basil Rajapaksa and other UPFA leaders are now focusing attention on this. Decisions on the matter will be announced at the appropriate stage.

Q: Former Minister Ferial Ashraff who dissolved her National Unity Alliance and joined the SLFP was defeated in the East in the last parliamentary elections while the SLMC that contested in alliance with the UNP won some seats. Does it imply that the Eastern Muslims desire separate Muslim political parties to represent their interests?

A: It is totally a different scenario. The SLMC vote bank has been progressively eroding in all the three districts of the Eastern province, viz Ampara, Trincomalee and Batticaloa. Because they contested in alliance with the UNP, they received preferential votes of the UNP supporters.

This is how they got two seats in Ampara - while the majority community forfeited one seat.

It is the same with regard to Batticaloa and Trincomalee where they won one seat each through the preferential votes of the UNP supporters.

Q: SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem keeps insisting on unification of the North and East and a separate unit of devolution for the Muslim community by annexing non-contiguous areas of their domicile in the North and East. What are your views on this?

A: This stance is unrealistic and disadvantageous to both communities. If separate unit of devolution is given to the Muslims annexing their non-contiguous areas of domicile, the Tamil community too will have to be given a similar annexation which will lead to a complex situation causing more problems and conflicts. Also the Tamil leaderships never agreed to it in the past.

This is very unrealistic. Under the de-merger they will have two PCs, two Chief Ministers and an atmosphere where all communities will live in peace and amity. Regional-based units of devolution are much advantageous unlike the communal-based units of devolution.

Q: Chief Minister of a provincial council recently said he will get direct foreign assistance for development work in his province. Is getting direct foreign assistance to implement any specific development projects permissible?

A: No. All foreign assistance for development projects or any other specific projects have to be routed through the central Government and seeking such assistance is one of the functions of my Ministry.

Q: Has your Ministry identified any programs/projects as urgent and important for fund allocation to PCs and local government bodies?

A: Capacity building of the local communities throughout the country, construction of roads, infrastructure development and livelihood programs are some of the programs that we have identified as urgent and important.

These will be done through the local government authorities. Fund allocations are under consideration. Providing loans to the local Government authorities for them to improve their infrastructure facilities and providing them with more fire brigade units are also in the pipeline.