TNA urges govt. to hold PC polls soon

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday urged the government to hold provincial council elections as soon as possible in order to ensure democracy in the North and East. 

TNA parliamentary group leader R Sampanthan, speaking during the committee stage debate on the budget in parliament, said the provincial council elections should be held to ensure power-sharing prevails. “It is unfortunate that the provincial council has not been held still. 

We want the provincial council polls held as soon as possible. Power is not shared when elections are not held. Also, there will not be any democracy in provinces when elections are not held,” Mr. Sampanthan said. “Setting up of provincial councils was the beginning of a journey towards finding a political solution to the national issue. 

This journey does not seem to be continuing today. All 225 MPs in 2016 agreed to move on with this journey by converting parliament into a constitutional assembly. This journey has come to halt due to some reason. We have to kick start this journey,” he added. Also, he urged the government to focus on divisions and district which are problematic including Kalmunei and Trincomalee. 

He said capable divisional and District secretaries should be appointed so that people will benefit. “I made a complaint against one divisional secretary to late President J. R. Jayewardene in the 1970s. Mr. Jayewardene then asked me what would happen if the divisional secretary is replaced with a worse one. 

Then I told him that I have already chosen a better person and requested him to appoint Lionel Fernando Fernando the well-known public servant. Mr. Fernando was apparently appointed and he did good work for several years. Therefore, capable public servants should be appointed” he added. a