PC Elections Must Be Held Urgently to Protect Peoples’ Rights: Sajith

May of island wide nine Provincial Councils 

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated in Parliament today that since the 13th Amendment is part of the supreme law of the country, it must be protected. 

However, he noted that undermining this requirement by interfering with the subject of environment in the Concurrent List and the powers vested in the Provincial Councils is inappropriate.

The Opposition Leader further mentioned that the speediest way to resolve this issue is to hold the Provincial Council elections as soon as possible, which would allow a political authority to be elected to safeguard the powers of the Provincial Councils. 

He added that as a party standing firmly by the 13th Amendment—rather than a "13 Plus" or "13 Minus" stance—the position of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is that the existing rights of the Provincial Councils must be protected.