While opposing the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) election the JVP today said it would only pave the way to separatism.    

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had earlier confirmed the election for the NPC to be held in September this year. After establishing provincial councils in 1987, this would be the first time that an election was to be held for the Northern Provincial Council separately.

Speaking at a news conference JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the 13th Amendment was not the best solution to solve ethnic disharmony in the country and urged the government to abolish it and introduce a new constitution that would treat all ethnic groups equally.

“The provincial council system in the 13th Amendment is not devolution of power; it will only extend the power of councils pressuring the people especially in the north if the Provincial Council election was held. Therefore it is essential to establish a new constitution that would treat all ethnic groups equally, safeguarding their rights and culture,” he said.

He further said although the government had enough time to take proper action to protect the people and improve reconciliation in conflict areas in north, it had failed to do so.

“The government is performing arbitrary activities in the north. Northern people think the Colombo government is invading and looting their lands with military power,” he said.

 Mr. Dissanayake also said the government was petting senior war criminals while keeping minor LTTE cadres in custody.

“The government has imprisoned youngsters just for keeping an LTTE identity card signed by Daya Master. But Daya Master is enjoying freedom with the blessings of the government. Also it is protecting Kumaran Padhmanadan (KP) who procured weapons for the LTTE. But those who were engaged in war with the weapons supplied by KP are imprisoned,” he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)