PCs no answer to N-E issue - JHU

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), says the Provincial Council system was introduced to address the problems of the North and East, but has so far failed to resolve the issue.

JHU MP Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera has said that the JHU's decision to move a motion seeking the abolition of the Provincial Council system was based on many reasons that range from the illegal manner in which the Constitution was amended to establish the Provincial Council system to its failure to address the issues in the North and East.

"The Provincial Council system was brought about as a solution to the problems in the North and East. Over 5,000 Indian forces personnel sacrificed their lives in Sri Lanka's North and East in order to get this system implemented. However, the terrorists in the North and East did not agree to the Provincial Council system. Therefore, the system has not solved the North and East issue. This is an issue that has been coming from the past," he has explained.

According to Ven. Ratana Thera, the worst clause in the amendment is on the merging of Provinces if there were no objections between the respective Provinces.

"Under this clause, the North and East provinces were merged on the basis of the area being the traditional homeland of the Tamil people. This is a wrong concept and it cannot be proven with historical facts," he has observed.

"After considering all these reasons, the JHU will introduce to parliament next week a motion to repeal the Provincial Council system," Ven. Ratana Thera has said.

He has added that the JHU would speak to other parties including the UNP, TNA and the JVP to get their support for the draft motion.

The Thera has noted that the party was seeking people's support before looking for government support for its draft motion to amend the Constitution and repeal the Provincial Council system in the country.