The Eastern Provincial Council led by Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan has unanimously passed a resolution demanding land and police powers for the council. A copy of the resolution has been sent to the Presidential Secretariat, a council spokesman said yesterday.
The resolution says that failure to devolve land powers to the province will mean that the council will have powers only to maintain houses without powers over land. The resolution points out that most of the lands in the Eastern Province come under the Railway Department, the Security Forces, the Forest Conservation Department, the Tourist Board and the Mahaweli Authority.
The resolution says that failure to devolve land powers to the province will mean that the council will have powers only to maintain houses without powers over land. The resolution points out that most of the lands in the Eastern Province come under the Railway Department, the Security Forces, the Forest Conservation Department, the Tourist Board and the Mahaweli Authority.
The resolution says that fertile land is being acquired by a gazette notification for various tourism projects, leaving the council without powers. The resolution also says Police powers should be given to the Provincial Council.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Chandrakanthan, soon after returning from his current visit to Switzerland, will seek a meeting with TNA Parliamentary group leader R. Sampanthan to discuss the demand for police and land powers.“We are willing to work jointly with the TNA in winning these demands,” the council spokesman said.
By Chris Kamalendran
ST