FORMER GOVERNOR AGAINST DEVOLVING POLICE, LAND POWERS

PThere are state governments in India and in the USA. However, there are no state governments in Sri Lanka. Therefore, police and lands should be vested with the Central government

olice and land powers should not be devolved to the provinces as they are not state governments as in the case of other countries, Former Governor of Western Province Hemakumara Nanayakkara said yesterday.

The former governor told a press conference that Sri Lanka’s Provincial Council system was different to that of the devolution of power in other countries.

“There are state governments in India and in the USA. However, there are no state governments in Sri Lanka. Therefore, police and lands should be vested with the Central government,” Mr. Nanayakkara said.

Referring to the proposed 20th Amendment, Mr. Nanayakkara said the proposed parliamentary council would be far from independent as the majority of members in those se council would be pro government. nt. “The Council is headed by the Speaker er who is a member of ruling SLPP, while ile the Prime Minister is also the leader er of SLPP. Both the Prime Minister and nd the President could nominate two more re members to it. Therefore four out of five members in the council would be pro government,” he said.