Friday, 5 July 2013 00:02
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Says limited land and Police powers better than nothing
By Uditha Jayasinghe
The Government yesterday played down intensified diplomatic engagement with India over power devolution to the Tamil minority and insisted that it was merely to keep the regional super power “informed”.
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa flew to New Delhi to meet with top officials including Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to explain the Government’s plans on power devolution to the Tamil minority.
The move comes after Singh expressed “dismay” over the Government’s plans to roll back power devolution under the 13th Amendment to its Constitution, which was made with the intervention of India in 1989.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday acknowledged that the Government was keen on revamping land and Police powers under the 13th Amendment but insisted the interaction with India was merely a “courtesy”.
“The Government of Sri Lanka has scientifically evaluated the situation and found that these two areas, Police and land powers, have to be reviewed, revisited and it is by common courtesy since the 13th Amendment stems from Rajiv-JR, heads of two states.
Therefore it is common courtesy to sort of have this discussion to inform the signatories to the agreement. On that basis a member of the Cabinet nominated and designated by the President is visiting India,” he said.
When asked how the Government could have a stance on land and Police powers when it had said the PSC should decide that, Rambukwella noted that the Government stance of limiting these key powers would be taken before the PSC.
“The Government position is that with regard the 13th Amendment it is necessary that we re-look at it and there has to be certain amendments. Major two areas are Police and land powers. We feel that the time is right for us to revisit those areas and make the necessary arrangements. As it is an agreement between two states we find that it is common courtesy to inform them and to explain the situation as far as those two issues are concerned and this position will be carried to the PSC.”
The Minister also dismissed criticism over its plans insisting that “limited Police and land powers are better than not having any, which is the situation now at least we are implementing some level of power devolution rather than not doing anything,” he said, stressing that it all “depends on the interpretation” given to the Government’s actions.
