SJB appoints committee to study OHCHR report

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today said its leader Sajith Premadasa had appointed an expert committee to study the UNHRC High Commissioner’s report on Sri Lanka.

SJB National Organiser Tissa Attanayake told a press conference that this expert committee will study the report and will give their opinion about it. He said SJB will come up with its official stand on the report once this study is completed. “However we urge the Government to deal with the issue diligently without getting into disputes with any of the member states,” he said.

SJB also urged the Government to hold the provincial council elections after making necessary amendments to the Provincial Council Elections Act.

Mr. Attanayake said the Government could not delay the Provincial Council Elections anymore as these institutions had to be administered by the people’s representatives as per the Constitution.

“There is no provision for the President to run the Provincial Councils through governors continuously as per the Constitution. Therefore it is essential to hold the Provincial Council Elections,” he said.

“We understand that amendments will have to be made to the Provincial Council Elections Act. It will be possible for the leaders of political parties which represent Parliament in a short time. Therefore we urge the government to bring in necessary amendments and hold the polls,” he added.(Yohan Perera)