Provincial Councils: A money-eating monster?

When the provincial council system was introduced to Sri Lanka with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, it was more of a gesture to please India than to fulfil the needs of the natives. India, with a federal constitution to govern an enormous entity, thought such a system would be the best solution to Sri Lanka’s so-called ethnic problem. After almost 25 years since its inception, India has been proven wrong; and Sri Lanka that gave way to the former’s pressure, has been rearing a money-eating monster, which does not serve any purpose.

The fifty percent voter-turnout at the elections on Saturday speaks aloud the level of importance people placed on the system and their own franchise. If half of the voter population thought, staying at home was better than queuing up in front of the polling stations, it sends out the clear signal that the system needs an upgrade or an efficient replacement that served the people better.

With the current administrative system, which is largely supported by the local government authorities, the role of provincial councils has always raised many eyebrows. Other than the miniparliamentary structures strewn around the country and the perks and privileges enjoyed by their members, it is none other than a step in the ladder for those who wish to end up in the highest echelon of the country’s governing body - the Parliament.

Especially at a time when Sri Lanka is trying to tighten the ties between its communities, which ought not to suffer the consequences of any more impediments, it cannot be too optimistic about the fact that the white-elephant that has been lavishly devouring public money will metamorphose itself into a workhorse overnight.

Besides, the decision by the government to go without a provincial council election in the North with the excuse that, the condition of the province has not yet returned to normalcy, is hard to believe. In fact, it is this war-ravaged citizenry who feel the need to systemise their lives the most. And what is better than granting them the right to appoint their representatives as assured in the Constitution!

If the government assessed them to be fit enough to cast their vote in the two major elections - parliamentary and presidential - the logic behind not establishing a provincial council in the North is beyond the comprehension of the general public.

The incumbent government like its predecessors opts to the method of holding elections when it is at advantage of winning. Despite the cries of concern by independent election monitors and observers against the misuse of public property and voter intimidation, those who are in power would see that they gain permanent power.

While all eyes are turned to the East with the release of the poll results, the only concern of the public is whether the new faces of the same hue would take the shape of the elephant’s trunk or tail; for they have been silent witness to the rest of the repetition.