The Hon. Faiszer Musthapha, PC

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity to speak in the Committee Stage debate on the votes of the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, and the Ministry of Labour.

¶ 02 On Provincial Councils: for 11 years we have not held PC elections. The PC system originated from the Indo-Lanka Accord as a solution to the national question. Though not initially our demand, following the Supreme Court determination, the PC system was introduced.

¶ 03 In 2017, the Provincial Councils and Elections (Amendment) Act No. 17 introduced a new electoral system, which required a two-thirds majority in Parliament, and over 160 MPs approved it. The current President also voted for it. That system abolished the corrupt preferential vote and produced a councillor responsible to a ward, with 50 per cent by wards and 50 per cent by PR, but without preferences.

¶ 04 It also mandated 25 per cent women’s representation in local authorities and in Provincial Councils—provisions I brought to Parliament. A Delimitation Committee was appointed under that law by the then President, not by me; my ministerial duty was to table its report and seek approval.

¶ 05 Many say I voted against the report I tabled. Any Member has the right to support or oppose. Further, to protect minority parties and communities, approval required a two-thirds of the total membership, including absentees that day. After rejection, under the Act, the Speaker had to appoint a Review Committee chaired by the Prime Minister; that Committee reported within two months to the President, after which the groundwork existed to hold elections. Presidents Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe did not pursue this process. The Speaker must now appoint that Review Committee so we can correct delimitation flaws and move forward, not backward.

¶ 06 There were shortcomings in delimitation affecting minorities and small parties. The Delimitation Committee Chairman, T. Maheswaran (Thavalingam), wrote to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya noting disadvantages and recommending bonus seats for minorities in each district. I ask the Minister to consider such amendments to protect minorities and small parties.

¶ 07 On governance of local authorities: executive power of President and Ministers is exercised through Secretaries—not directly. But in local authorities, tender boards and decisions sit with Mayors or Chairmen, enabling corruption. Based on recommendations of the committee I appointed under Saliya Peiris, we should remove such powers and prevent direct executive action by chairs/mayors to combat corruption.

¶ 08 On digitalization: planning approvals and permits are within LAs; if we begin digitalization there, we can significantly fight corruption.

¶ 09 On stray dogs and rabies: you have allocated Rs. 100 million. We must find a humane solution, including sterilization. Stray dogs have become a major social issue; killing is not the answer.

¶ 10 On State–Provincial Management Service Officers: 40 per cent are graduates, 60 per cent non-graduates; there are salary and career guidance issues—please look into them, and also the benefits for Primary Investigations Officers.

¶ 11 Though the world’s first woman Prime Minister was from our country, women’s representation in Pradeshiya Sabhas, PCs and Parliament is low. The 25 per cent quota in LAs and PCs is bringing more women into politics. Studies in India show lower corruption where women’s representation is higher. Bringing more women into politics strengthens the anti-corruption fight.

¶ 12 On the Constitution: PCs are assigned Police and Land powers by the Constitution. Every Government has withheld them, citing reasons. If the Constitution grants powers, we must devolve them; if not, amend the Constitution. Otherwise, we disrespect it. The 13th Amendment passed with over two-thirds; please address this respectfully.

¶ 13 Finally, we should assess whether the PC system has served its purpose—has it increased ethnic tensions or delivered uneven development? This is not to delay elections, but to review and improve the system. A PC term is five years; we have gone 11 years without an election. It is unfair to scapegoat me for this delay. We must also examine if the system causes fiscal waste; my view is to further strengthen local authorities—the government of the village—for development.

¶ 14 The PC system has divided schools and hospitals between central and provincial, often leaving provincial ones with less attention. Under such division, optimal development is difficult. I conclude, thanking you for the time.