Gevindu campaigns against PCs, urges NPP to examine laws harmful to unitary status

Former MP Gevindu Cumaratunga warned yesterday that Provincial Council (PC) elections could undermine the unitary status of the country as separatist forces were once again working overtime to break up the country with external help.

- BY SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO

That was clearly evident from the results of the recent local government polls, especially in the North and East, with separatist elements garnering the majority of votes, he said.

Cumaratunga, who leads the Yuthukama civil society group, pointed out though the NPP experienced a significant drop in its vote bank at the 06 May Local Government polls, compared to the parliamentary polls last November, the government could go ahead with its agenda without creating an unnecessary obstacle by way of PCs, particularly in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Referring to various commemorative events held on Sunday and Monday to mark the 16th anniversary of Sri Lanka's triumph over separatist terrorism, the former SLPP parliamentarian warned the National People's Power (NPP) government that the abolition of PCs would make war victory meaningful, though such a measure wasn't possible in the near future.