Cabinet nod to establish National People’s Council Secretariat

The Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday approved the establishment of a National People’s Council Secretariat to strengthen participatory democracy in the formulation of public policies.

“Before this week’s Cabinet meeting started, a presentation was conducted by the National Movement for Social Justice Chairman Karu Jayasuriya and Senior Journalist Victor Ivan on the ‘Jana Sabha’ concept, its importance, the implementation process and its implications on the country. 

“The key aim is to contribute towards the creation of public policies and ensure successful implementation through the active participation of citizens,” Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.

He said the President’s Secretariat has informed to submit suitable nominations for the Director General and other positions of the Board of Directors of the proposed Secretariat to seek approval from the Cabinet of Ministers.

“Everyone unanimously agreed and commented that the mechanism will allow solving the problems of the respective provinces through a voluntary assembly system without any political, religious, caste, or caste discrimination in the entire country and creating a fairer social democracy,” he added.

Gunawardena said the Cabinet Ministers requested the first opportunity to participate. 

“We are holding discussions with the civil organisations this week to further make this establishment effective and efficient,” he added.

The proposal to this effect presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The concept paper outlines six targets which include; 1) active involvement of peripheral public opinion in the centralised decision-making process, 2) ensuring an active community citizen participation in the implementation of public policies, 3) building an active and developed citizenry that contributes to the policy-making process, 4) eliminate the destructive and corruption caused by the inefficiencies of bureaucracy and the intervention of political authority through active citizen involvement, 5) people’s participation in decision-making of national importance, and 6) building People’s Council as a participatory structure with sharp and advanced citizen involvement to correct the inefficiencies of existing democratic models through active citizen participation.