JHU threatens to withdraw from Govt if it implements 13th Amendment fully

The JHU today threatened to withdraw from the government if it implements the 13th Amendment in fully and gives police powers to provincial councils.

Speaking at a press briefing in Colombo today minister Champika Ranawaka said that JHU, is strongly opposed to the idea of giving police powers to provincial councils.
He said that both the 13th and 17th amendments to the countries constitution are totally unnecessary.

According to the Minister the Tamils in the North do not have any problem at the moment, therefore no need for a power sharing solution at the moment for the nation.

According to the Minister, JHU is strongly opposed to the 13th amendment as it is not suitable for a small country like Sri Lanka and the 17th amendment he said would create several commissions comprising persons appointed by political interferences.

The central government is holding many of the powers vested to the provincial councils with the 13th amendment to the constitution. Main among them are the land and police powers.

Many countries that supported Sri Lanka in the war against LTTE, especially India and USA wanted the 13th amendment implemented fully.

The hardline Sinhala parties in ruling coalition UPFA government are against this move, and Buddhist clergy led Jathika Hela Urumaya's (JHU) warning has come in this backdrop.