Govt. to proceed with PC polls under existing provisions of 13th Amendment

12 July 2013 09:08 am

Cabinet spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that if the Parliamentary Select Committee did not come up with proposals to amend the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the Northern Provincial Council elections and other Provincial Council elections will be held according to the existing provisions of the 13th amendment.

Therefore the 13th amendment inclusive of land and police powers will be in effect for the Provincial Council elections unless the relevant amendments are submitted prior to the elections.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Rambukwella said the government was seeking views of all parliamentary parties regarding the amending of the 13th Amendment.

“The President is not of the view that the amendments to the constitution could be made unilaterally and therefore it is the view of government that all parties must express their views through the Parliament Select Committee.It is in fact their bounden duty to participate in these exercises as they express the mandate of the people” he said.

The Minister added that if the Parliamentary Select Committee puts forward proposals within the time period prior to elections, such proposals would be take in to consideration when amending the constitution.

“It all depends on the time frame, and if they do come up with the relevant amendments we will incorporate them.But if they fail to do so within the specified time period, elections would nevertheless go ahead and the amendments if required would be incorporated once the PSC was ready to submit them" he said( Hafeel Farisz)