No police or land powers to provincial councils - NPP affirms 72 hours before polls

by admin
Sep 19, 2024

(Image courtesy: Vijitha Herath Facebook Page)

Senior member of the National People's Power (NPP), Vijitha Herath, reiterating his party's commitment to preserving Sri Lanka’s unitary state and offering privileged protection to Buddhism under an NPP-led government, just days before voting in presidential elections begins.

Speaking at a public symposium convened by the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress, Herath emphasized that the party remains steadfast in its stance on religious priorities.

"We made it clear then, and we remind it now, that provincial councils are not a solution to the ethnic issues in the country," Herath stated. "Article 9 of our constitution will not be changed in any manner."

Article 9 of Sri Lanka’s constitution asserts that “The Republic of Sri Lanka shall give Buddhism the foremost place, and it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, while assuring to all religions the rights granted by Articles 10 and 14(1)(e)." Herath affirmed that the NPP would maintain the same prominence for Buddhism as previous governments have done.

He further explained that the NPP, as a political movement, has made “great sacrifices” to uphold the country's unitary state, territorial integrity, and national security. "Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, our stance remains the same. Protecting the unitary state is our bound duty," Herath declared.

"No police or land powers to provincial councils"

At a public symposium convened by the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress, @NPPSLOfficial national ex-co member Vijitha Herath guarantees the protection of #SriLanka’s unitary state structure and elevated position granted to #Buddhism. pic.twitter.com/GRvpjsVHOw

— LankaFiles (@lankafiles) September 18, 2024

Addressing the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution, Herath criticized the provincial council system, which was introduced as a supposed solution to the national question. He reiterated that his party had raised concerns about it from the outset, rejecting it as an ineffective solution.

"Today, it has been proven that this provincial council system, despite functioning for years, has neither resolved the national question nor aided in the development of the provinces," Herath said. He made it clear that the NPP would not grant land or police powers to the provinces and pledged that they "will never do it."

Herath also recalled the NPP's staunch opposition to the Indo-Lanka accord, reaffirming the party’s commitment to protecting Sri Lanka’s territorial integrity.

"Throughout the country’s history, we have consistently made decisions to safeguard our territorial integrity, and we stand by that commitment today and in the future. We assure the people of this country that these principles will not waver," Herath concluded.

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