CMs seek ruling on land powers

Provincial Chief Ministers who met in Badulla yesterday decided to go to the Supreme Courts to seek clarification on the land powers available to the councils, a spokesman said.

North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayaka said the SC ruling was being sought as there were contradictory circulars regarding land powers of the provincial councils under the 13th Amendment. The highlight of this annual conference of chief ministers was the participation of Eastern Province chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan who was elected after a controversial election last month.

Mr. Chandrakanthan, in a keynote address, called for the full implementation of 13th Amendment as a solution to the ethnic question.

“Empowering the Tamil people by fully implementing the 13th amendment is the way to resolve the problems of the Tamils,” he said. Mr. Chandrakanthan was elected chairman of the Chief Minister’s conference and he will host the next conference in four month’s time in Batticaloa.