Govt rules out dissolving any PCs [November 17 2008]

The Government today said that they have not taken any decision yet to dissolve any of the provincial councils before their terms end. Minister of Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Maithripala Sirisena said the terms of five provincial councils are to end mid next year. According to the Minister the terms of Western, Uva, Southern, Central and Wayamba Provincial Councils will end between April and August in next year. He pointed out that the United People's Freedom Alliance central committee is to meet on Wednesday under the leadership of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss the future of these provincial councils. Minister Sirisena went on to say that the candidates for the future provincial council elections would be finalized by December 15 this year. Polls were held for North Central and Sabaragamuwa provincial councils in August of this year while Eastern PC had its elections in May.