SLFP for power devolution aiming at development – MP Dayasiri

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary, MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said the SLFP will support a process of devolution of power for development.

He was addressing the media yesterday in Colombo at the SLFP headquarters along with former President Maithripala Sirisena. However, he emphasized that the SLFP does not support a process of devolution of power based on territories or races but the Party will support the devolution of power only for development.

He said that according to the Party’s opinion, the Provincial Council system should be revised, since various issues have arisen due to certain problems in the present Provincial Council system. For instance the issues in the area of education and health, created by the power struggle of the Central Government and Provincial Council can be identified.

Jayasekara emphasized that a formal discussion should be held on the provision of land and Police powers to the Provincial Councils. According to the Party’s position, there are problems regarding giving Police powers and the matter should be discussed further.

However, certain Tamil politicians are of the opinion that the 13th Amendment should be fully implemented and Police and land powers should be given to the provincial councils.

This was discussed at length at the All-Party Conference held on Wednesday.

“Nevertheless, during the discussions, it was found that the Government is not stable on this issue. It is seen that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), in particular, does not have a clear position on this issue. It is observed that the Government and the SLPP do not have a stable opinion either.”

However, the Secretary General said that it was suggested by the SLFP to the Government to implement the “District Council” system instead of Provincial Councils. However the proposal of establishing District Councils to the place of Provincial Council was not encouraged by Tamil political parties or some parties in the South.

He emphasized that the Provincial Council system should be reinforced and elections should be held or abolished. “Either the Provincial Council system should be re-enforced and elections should be held or abolished,” he noted.