Government factions undecided on PC elections

by Staff Writer 29-03-2021 | 6:48 PM

Colombo (News 1st); The key factions in the government are yet to reach an understanding over the Provincial Council Elections, especially about how the election will be held.

General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Dayasiri Jayasekera speaking to reporters said the SLFP wishes to contest the polls as per the Mixed-Member electoral system. However, the SLPP says the method of holding the election will be decided by the Cabinet of Ministers. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna General Secretary Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam speaking to reporters said the cabinet would analyze the requests made on the method of holding the elections and then reach a decision. However, many factions that assisted in bringing the incumbent government to power believe the Provincial Councils must be abolished. In 2020, Venerable Medagoda Abhayatissa Thero said Provincial Councils pave the way for separatism in the country while it is also a waste of money. Yet, Sri Lanka's neighbor India, continues to call for the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and to call for Provincial Council Elections. At the recent UN Human Rights Council session, India supported the call by the international community for the Government of Sri Lanka to fulfill its commitments on the devolution of political authority, including through the early holding of elections for Provincial Councils and to ensure that all Provincial Councils are able to operate effectively, in accordance with the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution. During the weekend, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the recent UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka was the doing of "local and foreign forces" which do not want the country to progress and vowed that his government would not succumb to such pressures. In his first public comments since the UNHRC resolution, Rajapaksa said: "We will never succumb to (such) pressures (UNHRC resolution); we are a free nation. We will not be a victim of big power rivalry in the Indian Ocean."