President to discuss party proposals on 13 A at Cabinet soon

President Ranil Wickremesinghe will shortly submit to the Cabinet main highlights of proposals on implementing the 13tht Amendment to the Constitution.

The proposals, after being submitted to the Cabinet will be taken in Parliament for further discussions, Government sources said.

Earlier the President called political parties to submit their proposals on the full implementation of the 13^th Amendment.

Some of the main parties have responded to the call by the President to send in proposals,  while some others have not responded.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya believes that early provincial council elections should be held, but say it is not the right time to fully implement the 13^th Amendment.

OOn Thursday the President  addressed Governors of provinces and re-iterated his plans. The Presidential Media Division (PMD) said that his aim was to optimise the working of the local councils, provincial councils, and the central government sectors, whilst curbing financial inefficiencies.

The PMD said: “President Wickremesinghe instructed officials to collaborate with Provincial Governors and Chief Secretaries to draft a comprehensive report on this matter within a month. These consultations are intended to ensure a well-rounded perspective before formulating the new approach.

“These assertions were made during a recent meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, where President Wickremesinghe engaged with Provincial Governors and Chief Secretaries. The purpose of this event was to deliberate on the forthcoming administrative procedures associated with the provincial council system.”

The President said, “I have recommended the formulation of a novel system within a month’s time, following consultations with the Provincial Chief Secretaries. This step is crucial since the provincial councils are presently non-operational and bereft of ministers. Consequently, you, the Provincial Governors, hold complete governing authority within the current provincial council system. The previous year posed considerable challenges for us, an experience I believe we need not relive. As we strive to tackle the economic predicaments of the nation, our efforts must also encompass the restoration of the country’s governance structure. Of notable significance is that grassroots services are overseen by the provincial councils, while district-level services fall under the purview of the central government…..”