Policy Statement on 13th Amendment President rules out foreign countries in resolving nation’s challenges

• Calls for unity among people  
• the devolution of power within provincial councils is governed by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the govt. cannot afford to disregard it

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his statement to the House elaborating on the steps for the implementation of the 13th Amendment, emphasized that external entities or foreign countries cannot resolve the nation’s challenges on Sri Lanka’s behalf and called for unity among people.  He said the countries such as India and China in the region as well as those in the western world including the United States of America and Canada, offer examples of successful power devolution.  

He said even smaller countries like the United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Japan have adopted devolution.   
“For instance, let’s consider China, where ethnic minorities account for less than 9 percent of the population. Despite this, China has granted autonomous powers to these minorities through various administrative entities such as zones, county (korale), and cities.  

Asserting that the devolution of power within provincial councils is governed by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the government cannot afford to disregard it.  

“What characterizes modern democracies? The establishment of decentralized governance as opposed to devolution. Devolution of power serves to bring political, economic, social, and cultural matters closer to the people. This goal is pursued using diverse methods in different nations across the globe. Decentralization is recognized as a pathway to achieving a form of direct democracy.  
While no governmental system can fully transition to a direct democracy where all citizens gather to make decisions, it’s feasible to construct an institutional framework that facilitates people’s participation and their expression of will in political, economic, and social processes. The provincial council system serves as one such framework that brings power to the people, “he said.  

Outlining steps for strengthening the provincial council system, he said there are plans for the establishment of District Development Councils in Accordance with the 13th Constitutional Amendment to develop a three-year development plan for each provincial council in alignment with central government national policies.  
“We are currently in the process of establishing a committee, led by the Prime Minister, tasked with re-evaluating the list of powers held by the central government, the provincial council powers, and the concurrent list outlined in the constitution. The objective is to propose necessary amendments. We are actively seeking the support of all parties represented in the Parliament for this initiative.  

The Provincial Council Act No. 42 of 1987 lacks precise definitions regarding the responsibilities of provincial council ministers, their secretaries, and other officials. As a result, misunderstandings, issues, and confusion can arise. To address this, amendments should be made to the Provincial Council Act, specifying their powers,” he said.