Opposition MP hands over private member’s Bills to change provincial Council system

• The MP seeks to amend the Transfer of Powers Divisional Secretaries Act no 42 of 1987, Provincial Councils Consequential Amendment Bill and Provincial Councils (Amendment) Bill

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday handed over to the Secretary General of Parliament three private member‘s Bills aimed at easing the complexities pertaining to the provincial council system especially with regard to exercising powers by the central government and the provincial administration.   

“Provincial councils are said to be white elephants. It is perceived that the provincial council does not have the capacity to perform a sufficient service. The private members Bills will take away shortcomings in the provincial council system and ensure an efficient service,” MP Jayasekera said in a statement.   

Accordingly, the MP seeks to amend the Transfer of Powers Divisional Secretaries Act no 42 of 1987, Provincial Councils Consequential Amendment Bill and Provincial Councils (Amendment) Bill   

The amendments seeks to vest more powers to governors. Governor will be the chief executive of a provincial council and exercise his powers though the board of ministers of a provincial council. A governor of the province as the chief executive of the province in consultation with the Chief Minister of the Provincial Council will set up a coordination mechanism to monitor and evaluate administration and development. A Provincial Council may make rules for regulating, subject to the provisions of the new amendments will carry out its procedure and the conduct of its business. Provincial Council shall in consultation with the Governor will make rules through the Chairman of such Council for securing the timely completion of financial business and regulating the procedure and the conduct of business in the province. The amendments also seek to set up a provincial financial commission which shall be responsible for the distribution of provincial revenues between provincial local authorities, assignment of tax and non-tax revenues to local authorities and determination of grants in aid to local governments from the consolidated fund of the state of Sri Lanka and provinces.