Former Governor against devolving Police, Land powers

By Yohan Perera   

Police and land powers should not be devolved to the provinces as they are not state governments as in the case of other countries, Former Governor of Western Province Hemakumara Nanayakkara said yesterday.   

The former governor told a press conference that Sri Lanka’s Provincial Council system  was different to that of  the devolution of power in other countries.   

“There are state governments in India and in the USA. However, there are no state governments in Sri Lanka. Therefore, police and lands should be vested with the Central government,” Mr. Nanayakkara said.   

Referring to the proposed 20th Amendment, Mr. Nanayakkara said the proposed parliamentary council would be far from independent as the majority of members in those council would be pro government. “The Council is headed by the Speaker who is a member of ruling SLPP, while the Prime Minister is also the leader of SLPP. Both the Prime Minister and the President could nominate two more members to it. Therefore four out of five members in the council would be pro government,” he said.   

There are state governments in India and in the USA. However, there are no state governments in Sri Lanka. Therefore, police and lands should be vested with the Central government