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Repealing provision for merger of provinces:
Eastern PC Ministers welcome Govt's decision
by P. Krishnaswamy
Eastern PC Ministers who represent the ruling UPFA constituents have
expressed mixed views over the Government's decision to repeal
Constitutional provisions for the merger of two or more provinces,
intended mainly at preventing the merger of the Northern and Eastern
Province in terms of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
PC Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayake representing the SLFP said that
Parliament, the supreme legislative body, should decide whether or not
to hold a referendum or to introduce an amendment to nullify provisions
of the Amendment. He said he would welcome any decision that Parliament
may take on the matter.
PC Minister Uthuma Lebbe representing the National Congress led by
Minister of Local Government and PCs A.L.M. Athaullah said that from the
very inception their party strongly opposed the merger of the two
provinces.
The Eastern province was marginalised, the people were discriminated
against and communal hatred was fostered when the two provinces remained
as one administrative unit, he said.
As a separate Council, the Eastern PC has achieved much in the
development sphere while communal amity and peace have also been
restored, he said.
PC Minister M.S.M. Subair representing the All Ceylon Muslim Congress
(ACMC) led by Industries and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathuideen also
expressed similar views.
Councillors representing all three communities now have the chance of
sitting together to discuss matters which would not have been provided
in a unified PC, he said.
PC Ministers representing the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) led by
Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem declined to comment and party General
Secretary M.T. Hassan Ali told the Sunday Observer that their party was
opposed to any piecemeal changes to the 13th Amendment but, instead,
some meaningful mechanism should be put in place to find a lasting
solution to the problem. The President has the power to do it, he said. |
