Chief ministers question power devolution

THE chief ministers of provincial councils have called on the government to state if the provincial council system would be continued in the country.

The eight chief ministers have also asked if the government was prepared to devolve all powers to the provinces as stated in the relevant legislation.

Speaking at the Chief Ministers’ Forum in Anuradhapura, North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake said the provincial council system needed to be properly implemented in the country in order to make them effective.  He said the real need is for the provincial councils to be allowed to discharge the services assigned to them.  He noted that there was no necessity for extra powers for the provincial councils.

However, he has expressed doubts on whether the services provided by the provincial councils were satisfactory.  According to Dissanayake, the chief ministers have made the relevant requests from the authorities but have not received a satisfactory response.

He has also pointed out that the funds allocated to the provincial councils were insufficient to carry out its work.

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