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Some provisions in 13A impractical, alternatives should be sought: President

6 January 2020 11:00 pm - 4     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said some provisions in the 13th Amendment to the Constitution were impractical and that alternative solutions should be sought instead.

The President expressed these views when a group of European Union (EU) Ambassadors called on him at the Presidential Secretariat today.

French Ambassador in Sri Lanka Eric Lavertu, German Ambassador Jorn Rohde, Deputy Italian Ambassador Allegra Baistrocchi, Ambassador of the Netherlands Tanja Gonggrijp, Ambassador of Romania Victor Chiujdea and Denis Chaibi of the European Union Mission in Sri Lanka took part in the meeting.

The President Media Division (PMD) said the EU delegation was interested in learning more about the development and devolution of power in Sri Lanka.

Referring to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, President Rajapaksa said some of the provisions of the 13th Amendment were impractical.

“Instead, politicians should seek alternative solutions. For an example, if the provincial councils were given police powers, the police will become politicised. What is more practical is appointing people from the districts belonging to the Provincial Councils to the police ranks up to the level of OIC. It will help solve issues caused by language and cultural differences,” he said.

The President also said that political solutions should proceed hand in hand with the development process.

Meanwhile, explaining Sri Lanka's foreign policy of the middle path, the President said that helping small countries like Sri Lanka develop at a pace similar to the rest of the world was the best move to counter regional power authorities. He also urged the EU to positively look at Sri Lanka as an investment hub. (Lahiru Pothmulla)


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  • Buddhist Monday, 06 January 2020 11:30 PM

    More than 13th amendment issues, what ever they may be, SL not allowing the National Anthem being sung in Tamil shows SL is going backward. When its permitted in the Constitution. What happens if Tamils sit through when Sinhala National Anthem is being sung?

    tamil hindu Tuesday, 07 January 2020 01:49 PM

    Very easy answer, to you naming yourself Buddhist,what happens to tamils in tamil nadu when indiannational anthem, just learn to follow it as a minority group in a country.

    ranjit Tuesday, 07 January 2020 12:11 AM

    what is happening to the police, are they not politicised.

    Chandu Tuesday, 07 January 2020 01:40 PM

    Even without empowering 13A what is happening in North currently does not spell well for SL. If extremists want their way,let them seek it elsewhere but not in SL. So singing national anthem in Tamil has not brought any good so far.


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