Southern Province Governor Keerthi Thennakoon today signed the gazette notification dissolving the Southern Provincial Council (SPC) with effect from midnight today.

He signed the gazette notification under the powers vested in him by the Article 154 (a) section eight of the constitution.

The signing of the Gazette took place in such backdrop where the tenures of the Northern, Eastern, Sabaragamuwa, North-western, North Central and Central Provincial Councils (PC) have expired and thus dissolved and run by the governors.

Now, the Southern PC also comes under the purview of the Governor. The Western PC term will end on April 21, while the Uva PC will expire in September this year. However, the PC polls have been delayed for nearly two years (19 months).

Speaking to Daily Mirror, SP governor Tennakoon, who was the former Executive Director of the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) said the PC polls should be held first before holding any other elections.

He said priority should be given to the PC polls and neither the presidential nor the parliamentary elections.

“PCs must be handled by people's representatives, not by governors,” Mr. Tennakoon said. (Sheain Fernandopulle)