Devolution process: to form Tamil eelam

Devolution of powers to Provincial Councils should be subjected to specific constitutional safeguards to ensure that it did not lead to the disintegration of Sri Lanka on ethnic lines, National Joint Committee (NJC) said on Thursday (Nov 24).

The NJC said that it wouldn’t oppose execution of some of the Central Government powers through some other mechanism as long as the unitary character was constitutionally protected.

Addressing the media at the National Library and Documentation Services Board, President’s Counsel Manohara de Silva said they wouldn’t demand all powers to be retained by the Central Government.

PC de Silva denied pursuing a political agenda either to promote or undermine any political party.

Warning of dire consequences unless the ongoing constitutional making process was allowed to succeed, De Silva explained constitutional safeguards were in place in countries where political powers had been devolved.

Alleging that a parliamentary Sub Committee headed by TNA MP Dharmalingham Siddarthan had proposed to do away with the concurrent list and the National Policy included in the reserve list, PC de Silva said India and South Africa had retained constitutional safeguards.

The top constitutional expert pointed out India and South Africa had included concurrent lists in their respective constitutions to pave the way for immediate intervention by the Central Government in case Provincial/Regional governments adopted measures contrary to the Constitution.

Calling India and South Africa semi-federal states, PC de Silva described having concurrent list as a step in the right direction if Sri Lanka was to continue with structure that enabled devolution of powers. “The concurrent list will provide an opportunity for the centre to intervene if the acts of Provincial Governments affect the rights of regional minorities.”

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