Two PC’s vote for amended 13A

25 June 2013 10:33 am - 15 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Two Provincial Councils - the Sabaragamuwa and Southern -today passed resolutions in support of the government’s initial move to repeal two provisions of the 13th Amendment, enabling Parliament to legislate on subjects allocated to the provincial councils and preventing the scope for merger of two or more provincial councils.

The provincial councils were set up under the 13th Amendment.

The government, by repealing these provisions, seeks to    enable Parliament to legislate on subjects included in the concurrent list only with the approval from majority of them, instead of approval from all of them as set out in the present constitution.

Accordingly, the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council passed the resolution with a majority of 17 votes. The motion was taken up as an urgent   matter by Chief Minister Mahipala Herath.

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) was opposed the resolution saying the provincial council system should be further strengthened.

Yet, in the Southern Provincial Council, it was passed by a narrow margin of only one vote. Six ruling party members voted against the resolution along with the opposition. Among them was Provincial Agriculture Minister Wijeya S. Weerasinghe.

The Central Provincial Council will take up resolution for a vote on June 28, whereas Northwestern Provincial Council will debate the issue tomorrow. (By Kelum Bandara, D.G. Sugathapala and Ajith Lal Shantha Udaya)

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Comments - 15

BuffaloaCitizen Tuesday, 25 June 2013 10:51 AM

The 13th Amendment was legealised into the constituition to allow more autonomy and governance for tamils and tamil speaking areas. What logic is this when Provincial Councils consisting of either total or majority sinhalese decide on what is good for the tamils and tamil areas? Again we are going back to racism and tribal cowardice ala-carte MR style.

janak Tuesday, 25 June 2013 11:09 AM

WIMAL N JHU CAN FAST UOTO DEATH NOW

Bull Tuesday, 25 June 2013 12:18 PM

Why do tamils need autonomy? What about the other races? No one needs autonomy in this small country...one govt is more than enough. Tamil ppl here don't suffer as much as the "compassionate" diaspora think they do anyway.

Jumbuli-jumba Tuesday, 25 June 2013 12:19 PM

This was forced on Sri Lanka by the then Indian government's Rajiv Ghandi to appease LTTE. If this clause is implemented people from South will have to apply for Visa to go on pilgrimage to Naga Deepa.

Boobamba Tuesday, 25 June 2013 12:32 PM

If this clause is implemented North and East will be merged and 2/3 of the fuel and marine resources will be controlled by the newly merged province. Consequently, they will declare unilateral independence like Vartha Raja Perumal.
Majority population of approx. 85% will have to struggle in the remaining meagre land area and the resources.

Ane Anichan Tuesday, 25 June 2013 12:42 PM

The supreme sacrifices made by our heroic soldiers approx. 25,000 will be in vain, if land and police powers are vested especially on to the Northern Provincial Council.

kumar Tuesday, 25 June 2013 12:44 PM

Of course the majority don't need autonomy. because they control everything and even decide what the minority should think and speak. Your comment clearly shows that.

wasanthi Tuesday, 25 June 2013 01:26 PM

Wimal ask to Abolish PCs completely. we are with you.

Nanda Tuesday, 25 June 2013 02:04 PM

By devolving the power, Sinhala ppl here don't suffer as Vimal & JHU think.

MUTHU Wednesday, 26 June 2013 04:54 AM

13A AMENDMENT WAS SIGNED BY TWO HEAD OF STATES ON BEHALF OF THEIR COUNTRY AND IT IS NOT SIGNED BY TWO INDIVIDUALS, AND ALSO IT IS AN INTERNATIONALY ACCEPTED DOCCUMENT, SO IT IS NOT EASY TO ABOLISH UNILATTERLY.

MATHAN Wednesday, 26 June 2013 05:05 AM

DEVOLUTION OF POWER IS NOT SOMETHING NEW IN THE WORLD,AND IT IS IN PRACTICE IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES INCLUDING AMERICA,GERMANY AND INDIA.

Jagath Wednesday, 26 June 2013 05:08 AM

Glad to here that there were at least 6 MPs in South with a backbone. While President get more powers through 18A, this fool MPs voting for reducing their own powers.

Calistus Jayatilleke Wednesday, 26 June 2013 10:47 AM

Muthu: In actual fact, the so called 13th amendment was imposed or rather forced on us by the then Indian PM with threats of military intervention, just at the time when our forces were about to defeat the Indian-trained Tigers. Even after that the Indian violated our air space and dropped "parippu and karavadu" to intimidate us. It is high time we tell the Indians to go to hell and remove this provision from our constitution.

ganesh Thursday, 27 June 2013 07:05 AM

This is an international joke of this century as per jumba

ganesh Thursday, 27 June 2013 07:10 AM

You needed India to wipe out terrorism not needed any solution as preemptive Now India should understand it has been fooled

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Two PC’s vote for amended 13A

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