Malwatte Mahanayake most Ven. Thibbatuvawe Siddhartha Sri Sumangala Thera said it was unlikely that the abolition of the provincial council system, the executive presidency and the preferential voting system would take place even during the current regime of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Stressing on the need to abolish these systems, the Mahanayake Thera said these systems would not augur well for Sri Lanka’s future. The prelate said such a decision was expected even during the tenure of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

“We expected the same under President Mahinda Rajapaksa but it appears doubtful during his tenure as well,” the Mahanayake Thera said.

The Mahanayake Thera expressed these views when Minister Wimal Weerawansa met him yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, Asgiriya Mahanayake Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera also called for the abolition of the provincial council system. He referred to the provincial councils as institutions that wasted people’s money.

He said Sri Lanka unlike India was not a geographically large country to have states with devolved power. (J.A.L. Jayasinghe)