By Umesh Moramudali

The Provincial Councils (PCs) in Sri Lanka are not accorded the powers specified in the Constitution of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), United National Party (UNP) MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena charged.

Addressing media in Colombo on 8 September, he said, “The CPA conference is now being held in Colombo with the participation of more than 800 delegates. The PCs have a right to be in the CPA. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe wrote to the CPA Secretary General, requesting to have a discussion regarding giving Commonwealth membership to the PCs, as President Mahinda Rajapaksa has not given due recognition to the PCs . The states of India and Pakistan are represented there, but Sri Lanka has not taken the necessary step to include our PCs to the CPA,” he alleged.

“I don’t know how President Rajapaksa is going to face the CPA conference in Colombo as he has not given the due place to the PCs,” Jayawardena said alleging the government is working against the mandate of the Commonwealth, by acting undemocratic.

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