JVP: This is not the time for PC polls, government should deliver constitutional reforms
The JVP yesterday urged the government to deliver the promised constitutional reforms this year and address the key issues such as provincial council system, instead of holding an election amidst the current national health crisis.
JVP politburo member and trade union wing leader K. D. Lalkantha, addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, said that the government had promised to find solutions to issues such as provincial councils.
“We hope that the government at least fulfils that promise and introduces the new Constitution this year, addressing issues such as the provincial councils and dual citizens. The provincial council issue should be solved immediately. If it is to remain a place of public representatives then people should be elected without Governors being allowed to run them. If there is no need for the provincial councils then the new Constitution should introduce alternatives.”
“We are a political movement and we have policies, one being that we are against the division of this country. We make our political decisions on that basis. It is the government that promised to bring a new Constitution to find a solution to the provincial council issue. Holding elections to the provincial councils is not the right thing to do, given the way the pandemic is raging across the country.
Lalkantha said that the government did not have a clear-cut policy with regard to anything and that had been the reason for the prevailing mess in politics and controlling the pandemic.
“It managed to take control of the first wave of the pandemic. We appreciate it though we have reservations and criticisms of the way the government allowed the virus to enter the country. It lost its grip over the second wave. Now, the pandemic has entered Parliament; the army and doctors are getting infected by the virus. Those who drank the Dhammika Peniya are getting infected. This is a serious situation and provincial council elections are the last thing the country needs,” the JVP stalwart said.
(Source: The Island – By Saman Indrajith)
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Public is more concerned that the performance of the PCs should be evaluated first ( not done yet for decade ) & then PCs past budgets to be analysed what percentage go to Admn expenses and what percentage go to projects for people’s benefits ? As per some reliable sources 70% of expenses go to Admn (salaries , allowances , transport & others perks) and only 30% go to real peoples projects/ benefits ! This means that PCs are not performing at all for its very purposes and this should be rectified first. This is the priority matter for bublic than anything else ! Other-wise it will be utter wastage of bublic money and a crime.