By Kelum Bandara

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, at the All Party Conference, proposed a system in which parliamentarians can hold positions as members of the provincial councils simultaneously and vice versa.  Hot on the heels of the conclusion of his tour of India, the President called for this meeting to discuss implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution that provides for the establishment of the provincial councils.  

The President stressed the significance of discussing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution with all parties, as it is a matter that affects the entire country.   
He highlighted that a decision on this matter should involve input from all relevant parties. 

 
He asserted that he was bringing forth relevant proposals for the betterment of the country, but the responsibility of implementing them lay with all the representatives in the Parliament, as he alone couldn’t achieve it with his single vote.  

The President noted that seven out of the nine provincial councils were located in areas with a majority of Sinhalese. He emphasized the need to address shortcomings in the system for it to be sustained .  

According to President Wickremesinghe, the Central Government should formulate policies for the country, while provincial councils should provide the necessary facilities for the successful implementation of development activities in all fields. Collaboration between all parties and all levels of government was crucial for progress and development. 

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, former President Maithripala Sirisena, Tamil National Alliance leader and Member of Parliament R. Sampanthan, M. A. Sumanthiran, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and Member of Parliament Sagara Kariyawasam, as well as other Members of Parliament such as Dullas Alahapperuma, Wimal Weerawansa, Gevindu Cumaratunga, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Udaya Gammanpila, SarathWeerasekera, Venerable Athuraliye Rathana Thero, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, C.V. Vigneswaran, and Lakshman Kiriella, participated in the meeting.