News
NJC wants President to repeal 13A
View(s):The National Joint Committee (NJC) has requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to repeal the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
Issuing a statement, the NJC notes that the 13th Amendment was forced on Sri Lanka by India through “gunboat diplomacy.” The Provincial Councils (PCs) established under 13A have become white elephants, the organisation claims, adding that “devolution of power as opposed to decentralisation of power can even result in the division of our nation.”
The NJC states that it believes PCs or similar institutions should never be given legislative powers.
“Therefore legislative power given to provincial councils should be removed as a matter of priority. Legislative power should only be exercised by Parliament. Even if Provincial Councils are allowed to remain, we are in favor of strengthening the local authorities and provincial council members being nominated from the existing local authorities thus avoiding provincial council elections. Such a move would prevent provincial council members being remunerated utilising public funds,” the statement says.
The committee has also requested the President to take necessary steps to withdraw Sri Lanka from the co-sponsorship of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution 30/1.