By Sarah Hannan
Provincial Councils have completed their terms for a near two-year period, and there have been various administrative issues that have cropped up due to the lack of authority in these institutions, presenting various challenges to the Government.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa recently had issued directives to the newly-appointed Commissioner of Elections and his team that provincial council (PC) elections should be held at the earliest.
This week, Minister of Public Services, Provincial Councils, and Local Government Janaka Bandara Tennakoon was on The Sunday Morning Hot Seat as we inquired about the renewed attention that PC elections have garnered.
Following are excerpts of the interview:
The Government is discussing the holding of PC elections. Is it a sincere effort to hold elections?
Certainly. You may know that I have submitted a cabinet paper to initiate the proposal to amend legislation in order to create the environment to hold PC elections, as there are no legal provisions to hold the same at present.
When will the Government discuss the holding of PC polls and setting up the electoral process?
We have already started the discussions.
Some governing party allies, especially the nationalist organisations, have objected to the holding of PC elections. How will the Government get them on board with plans to hold the election?
We have to discuss with them. Anyway, I hope that we should arrive at a collective decision, as this is a crucial matter for the ruling party and its allies.
The nationalist organisations have called for the proposed new constitution before holding PC elections. What is the Government’s response to it?
We will decide after we hold a discussion with the party leaders.
If the objections increase, will the Government withdraw the holding of PC elections?
I am unable to give you an answer without completing discussions with the party leaders.
If PCs are to be abolished in a new constitution, why hold elections to the councils?
Until a new constitution is enacted, the provincial councils are part and parcel of the present system of governance in Sri Lanka. Therefore, at this juncture, we should conduct PC elections.
Will the Government retain the provisions of the 13th Amendment that brought about the PCs?
It has to be decided by the Cabinet of Ministers after considering the recommendation that would be presented through the new constitution.
Would it be correct to say that PC polls are not going to take place any time soon, given the existing complications?
We are to take the cabinet paper up for discussion; we are looking at upholding the PC elections at the earliest convenience, given the circumstances.
The Minister refrained from answering the following questions:
- The 13th Amendment was brought following the Indo-Lanka Accord. Before abolishing the 13A or the PCs, will the Government discuss it with India?
- What alternative will the Government propose to resolve the national issue and the minority calls for the devolution of powers to provinces?