Strategic reform for local governance: Professional approach - Part 2

Leadership for modernisation: Practical action, not rhetoric

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SRI Lankans have expressed their expectations through the ballot box. Now, leadership must deliver, not through rhetoric, but through decisive action. Modernising local government is a vital investment in democratic integrity, social cohesion, and national progress. By approaching reform with professionalism, this journey can redefine the relationship between the people and the Government, ensuring that the Government delivers more effectively for its citizens.

Navigating Sri Lanka's complex governance system

Sri Lanka's multi-tiered governance system includes the Central Government, nine Provincial Councils, and 340 Local Government bodies. While this structure aims to bring decision-making closer to the people, it often leads to inefficiency, confusion, and duplication.

The Central Government, headed by the President, oversees national matters like national mega infrastructure development, public law and order, defence and foreign policy. Provincial Councils, established through the 13th Amendment in 1987, manage regional matters such as education, health, and major infrastructure. At the local level, Municipal Councils, Urban Councils, and Pradeshiya Sabhas deliver basic essential services for the public.

However, the distribution of powers often leads to fragmented responsibilities and operational inefficiencies. Local government, despite their direct accountability to the public, are heavily dependent on the Central Government and Provincial Councils for funding and oversight. This has resulted in tensions between centralisation and devolution, exacerbated by political rivalry and unclear jurisdictions.

Professional leadership in the face of political debate