JHU accuses five UPFA ministers supporting devolution

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 July 2008, 10:54 GMT]
The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), all monks' party condemned a group of ministers who have been supporting devolution of police and land powers to provincial councils according to the 13th amendment to the constitution. JHU leaders at a press briefing held Thursday said ministers in the UPFA government have formed a movement to urge the government to devolve police and land powers to provincial councils. JHU media spokesman Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said the JHU would oppose such move and would take stern steps to crush the movement.

Meanwhile, at the inaugural meeting of the "National Movement For Power Acquiring for Provincial Councils" held at Mahaweli Centre in Colombo on Thursday five ministers Messrs Dilan Perera, Douglas Devananda, Dew Gunasekara, Tissa Vitarana and Rajitha Senaratne expressed full support for devolving police and land powers to provincial councils.

Law Reforms and Harbour Development Minister Dilan Perera said lasting political solution to the ethnic conflict could be found only through federal concept. Hence the government should devolve police and land powers to provincial councils.

"I am not against the word "Eelam". My stand is that all communities should live in the island calling themselves Sri Lankan. Police and land powers have not been devolved to the elected East Provincial Council as enshrined in the 13th amendment. Elections are held for Provincial Councils under the 13th amendment to the constitution. Hence we have formed the movement to urge the government authorities to devolve powers to PCs. Our struggle for more powers to PCs would continue," said Dilan Perera.

Dilan Perera added:" Today a suicide bomber is waiting for a wink from LTTE leader Pirapaharan to explode him or her to sacrifice for Tamil cause. Who created this bizarre situation? Injustice had been done to Tamils to take up arms for their liberation. All should think twice. All political parties have accepted the PC system Therefore no party could oppose devolving powers under the 13th amendment. All these times voices of those opposing devolving police and land powers to PCs are heard in the south. With the formation of our movement voices supporting devolution are gathering momentum. We would demolish all obstacles in taking forward our struggle in support of power devolution"

Minister for Engineering Services Rajitha Senaratne said parliamentarians had taken oaths under the Constitution which included 13th amendment. Therefore no parliamentarian could go against devolution of power to PCs. Those oppose 13th amendment should resign their seats first. Police and land powers should be devolved to PCs. The government should take steps to create conducive situation for Tamil peoples to live in their areas without fear and with freedom. Then only Tamils would have confidence on the government in power.