We have placed before you our proposals for the devolution of power,
which describe the extent to which autonomy would be enjoyed within the
ambit of a united Sri Lanka and a unitary constitution. I have already
indicated to you that whatever schemes we adopt must be applicable to the
whole island without favouring one particular section of the people. We must
recognize the rights of different communities to enjoy a certain degree of
autonomy. I am asking you what further powers should be devolved to meet the
aspirations of the Tamil people.
Powers devolved have to fit into a general scheme of government. Such a
scheme has to take cognisance of a united Sri Lanka. In a typical Federal
State several states or sub states wishing to come together form one central
unit. The rights of the constituent states to manage their own affairs
are limited by the powers reposed in the centre. Typical of this sort of
constitutional framework are the constitutions of USA, USSR and many others.
The example of India is also of interest. By the Government of India Act a
federal system of government was created which was continued by the Indian
Constitution though the Indian Constitution has been described by some as a
unitary constitution.
What we are doing in Sri Lanka is to take a unitary state and create
autonomous bodies within it. We are doing it in the reverse way. In
doing so we have to look at the factual situation in the country. For 150
years we have had a system of Provinces. The Provinces have been divided
into Districts and the Districts into AGA Divisions, and within the AGA
Divisions are villages. We seek to devolve power in the first instance to
the grass roots level organisations. These are the powers referred to in
Annexe 11 of the Committee "A" Report. It would be ideal to devolve power at
the village level, but there are 4,500 villages. Therefore it is not
possible, Therefore the first unit of devolution would be the AGA Division -
250 of them. vast amount of power cannot be devolved on an AGA Division.
Therefore the next level or division is the District, i.e. 25 of them, which
are referred to as the intermediate body. There will be a District Council
for each District. These exist today except however that those in the North
and East do not function.
District Councils known as District Development Councils existed even
when the events of July 23rd took place. When I met Mrs Gandhi in August
1983 she suggested that the Tamil people may want something more than
District Councils. After my visit to New Delhi, Mr Parathasarthy paid a
number of visits to Sri Lanka. The idea of a Provincial Council has been set
out in Annexes "A", "B" and "C". We found, however, that there were
practical difficulties in setting up Provincial Councils. We cannot set
them up in one part of the country only. We must find out from the people of
each Province whether they want this third unit of administration. Our
knowledge of the wishes of the people indicates that they do not want in
many parts of the country to go beyond the District Council as an
intermediate body. If the District Councils in a Province agree and the
people in the District agree, we have given them the choice of forming a
Provincial Council.
We have provided for a Provincial Chief Minister with a Committee like a
Cabinet. He will not be subject to any Minister of the central Government,
but like every other Minister he would be answerable to the President and
the Parliament.
The District executive and legislative power will be exercised by the
Chief Minister and the Committee. If the people wish to join together, the
choice is with them.
If you have alternative suggestions regarding the unit of devolution,
please state them. Please suggest any amendments to my scheme. If you cannot
do so because you need to consult people who are not here, I suggest that
you go back and find their reactions and return at an early and convenient
date. There are matters like land settlement, education, language,
employment, and internal law and order which have to be clarified. Some are
not really questions of devolution, but we must go into the question of how
power given to the Centre and the Unit will be exercised. Please do not say
that you are rejecting these proposals now and bring this Conference to an
end. In the days we have spent together we have come to know each other.
With this understanding we can find a lasting solution to the problems which
beset our beloved land which belongs to all of us.
