Authority to Develop Provinces Needed, Not Police And Land Powers

There is no need for Police Powers to the Provincial Councils. Also there is no need of land powers either. But what is urgently needed is the power and authority to develop the provinces and bring development to the villages.

The 31st Chief Ministers Conference was held at Passara, located in Badulla, on 16th February. The conference was chaired by Shashindra Rajapaksa, Chief Minister of Uva Province.

Also, Shan Wijayalal De Silva - Chief Minister of Southern Province, Mahipala Herath - Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa, Sarath Ekanayake - Chief Minister of Central Province , Athula Wijesinghe - Chief Minister of North Western Province , Prasanna Ranatunga - Chief Minister of Western Province, M. N. Abdul Majeed - Chief Minister of Eastern Province and S.M. Ranjith - Chief Minister of North Central Province attended the Conference.

Chief Minister of Uva Province Shashindra Rajapaksa when speaking to Asian Tribune about the Chief Ministers Conference said that they have not taken up the issues of Police and Land powers to the Provincial Councils.

He said that “Actually whatever powers that have been given now to the Provincial Councils, I consider it is more than enough for the development of the area, because people in the grass root level expect us to bring development to their villages.”

Shashindra Rajapaksa told Asian Tribune “I am of the opinion at present Provincial Councils have more than enough powers. I think at the moment whatever the authorities and powers given to the Provincial Councils, we Chief Ministers should perform and then consolidate”.

He further said at present there is no need for police powers to the Provincial Councils, but what we need is the full fledge authority to implement the development programme of the government in the provincial level.

He said that more than 75 percent of our demands we have already got and the year 2013 will be a tough year for all of us – we all Chief Ministers have to show our capacity of delivering to the central government.
He also said that I don’t think we need any land powers either.

When Asian Tribune pointed out that the Chief Ministers have conveniently left out the two contentious issues – Police powers and land issue without touching on those subjects.

Shashindra Rajapaksa said that we did not take up those issues because we have the practical experience of running a Province and we feel at present those powers are not necessary.

He added, “Please understand, if you ask for more and more authorities and powers, then you will get nothing. One has to be very practical with demands. In fact if you ask for little and once you get it and then deliver it and after that ask for more”.

“Once you adopt a practical line with your demands, a very systematic one, with the genuine intentions of serving the people and it has to be clearly reflected in your actions, then there is every chance of getting more at a later stage”, he said.

Asian Tribune endorsed the practical approach of the Chief Minister – Chip of the Old Block.

- Asian Tribune -