TNA calls for regional councils within a united Sri Lanka

Constitutional proposals

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has, in its constitutional proposals, submitted to the Expert Committee to Draft a New Constitution, called for the setting up of regional councils to devolve power within a united Sri Lanka.

The TNA proposals were submitted to the Secretary of the expert committee yesterday.

The TNA consists of Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK,) People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO). The document has been signed by TNA leader, R Sampanthan, ITAK Leader, Mavai S. Senathirajah, TELO Leader, Selvam Adaikalanathan and PLOTE Leader, D. Sithadthan.

The TNA has also said that the new constitution must recognise Sinhala, Tamil and English as official languages throughout Sri Lanka and as languages of administration in the entire island.

It has called for the abolition of the executive presidency. It wants the new Constitution to provide for the creation of a ceremonial presidency. The President should be accountable to Parliament and act on the advice of Prime Minister, who should also be head of the Cabinet of Ministers, the TNA has said in its proposals.

There should be a bicameral legislature with a Chamber comprising members directly elected by the people and a second Chamber with representatives from the regions, the TNA has proposed.

Each region should have a Governor appointed by President on the advice of the Chief Minister. Such advice should be given only with the approval of the Regional Council. Some of the important subjects that the TNA wants devolved to Regional Councils include (but not limited to); land, law and order, education including tertiary education, health, housing and construction, agriculture and agrarian services, irrigation, fisheries, animal husbandry and livestock development, resettlement and rehabilitation, local government,regional public service, regional police service, religious and cultural affairs,all other socioeconomic and cultural matters, cooperatives and cooperative banks industries and taxation, central grants, international and domestic loans and grants, and foreign direct investment. (Please see page 5 for TNA proposals)