Revisions to the 13A not possible before provincial polls
Saturday, 27 July 2013 00:00
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The governing party of Sri Lanka says that the proposed revisions to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution would not be possible before the forthcoming provincial council election.
General Secretary of the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), Minister Susil Premajayantha says the amendment “will not be possible” before the provincial council elections planned to be held in latter half of September as there is a specific procedure to follow.
“There is a process that has to be followed by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). We have referred all these issues to the Parliamentary Select Committee and they will discuss and decide on its implementation. Before election it cannot be implemented, because there is a procedure to be followed,” he explained.
Premajayantha also noted that the Government has not taken any steps to dilute the 13th Amendment as alleged by some elements.
“Who says it is diluted? It is the people who do not know about the 13th Amendment and the Provincial Council Act saying such things. I was one of the people who used the 13th Amendment and I have practiced it in the provincial council. Most of the people are shouting and talking, but I do not know if they have gone through the 13th Amendment or the Provincial Council Act,” Premajayantha said.
“The present changes are the merger of two or three provincial councils that is also if you go through the provincial council Act, included as certain provisions from time to time. This issue only emerged recently because of a judgment was passed by the Supreme Court. Until such time we did not have an issue. The PSC is here to consider the facts and make a recommendation to the Government after hearing all the parties,” he further explained.
