Immediate Provincial Council Elections Essential, Say Leaders at Jaffna Discussion

13-Aug-2025

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Suresh Premachandran, leader of the Tamil People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front and spokesperson for the Democratic Tamil National Alliance, stressed on August 10 the urgent need for the Anura government to conduct provincial council elections immediately without excuses.

Speaking at a forum titled "Powers and Limitations Shared with Provincial Councils" in Jaffna, he said:
"The Tamil people have been disappointed in obtaining devolved powers. The new government has been in power for ten months. They portrayed themselves as left-wing thinkers promising equality.
Before elections, they promised to repeal the anti-terror law, release lands, free political prisoners, conduct provincial elections, and resolve the national ethnic problem of Tamils.
Despite these promises, elections have not been conducted. The minister talks again about demarcation boundaries, and the election date remains unknown.
Provincial councils are not the ultimate political solution but an administrative mechanism. Still, local governance through these councils should function.
Governments should not be allowed to hinder constitutional implementation. We must continuously pressure the government to hold provincial council elections.
The new government must create a new constitution within two years, or it will be difficult later.
Economically, we are in a difficult position in the North and East. Youth are migrating. After displacement, even if a collective solution is obtained, who will utilize it?
Hence, by demanding elections, we can move to the next step. Elections must be held immediately, or the government risks ruling the people arbitrarily, which is dangerous."

Dr. Vigneswaran, former Chief Minister of Northern Provincial Council, said:
"Many believe the new constitution will bring collective solutions. But there is risk it may remove the 13th amendment. We must first protect what we have.
Fully implementing the 13th amendment means operating the provincial councils and enacting appropriate laws.
India was ready to cooperate fully, but Tamil leaders did not accept.
Hence, it is necessary to unite and pressurize for elections now."

Former Northern Provincial Education Minister Dr. Sarveswaran added:
"The value of Rs. 100 in hand is worth more than Rs. 1,000 elsewhere. Based on this, what remains for us is the 13th amendment system.
We must implement it. Provincial councils must have elected representatives. We must pressurize for this.
Establishing provincial councils is the way to proceed towards collective political goals."