{"id":175120,"date":"2017-03-17T00:00:26","date_gmt":"2017-03-16T18:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=175120"},"modified":"2017-03-21T18:34:15","modified_gmt":"2017-03-21T13:04:15","slug":"13-amendment-a-vista-of-opportunity-for-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/13-amendment-a-vista-of-opportunity-for-development\/","title":{"rendered":"13 Amendment: A Vista Of Opportunity For Development"},"content":{"rendered":"

By S. Krishnananthan<\/a> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

S. Krishnananthan<\/p><\/div>\n

The 13 Amendment<\/a> to the Constitution of Sri Lanka was introduced in 1987, may be to resolve ethnic problem that had reached gigantic proportion at that time, but have progressive provisions also inbuilt to address socio economic issues at the periphery. Apart from the objective of balanced regional development there are items that could imaginatively manipulated not only in the Northern and Eastern provinces but also in other marginally developed or underdeveloped areas in the Uva, Sabragamuva and North Central Provinces. The Colombo centric development paradigm could be easily circumvented and a periphery centric development model installed.<\/p>\n

Northern and Eastern Provinces<\/strong><\/p>\n

Northern and Eastern Provinces are minority dominated and limping back slowly to normalcy after a 30 year conflict. Majority of the people in these provinces earn their livelihood from agriculture and fisheries and the income from these activities continue to be marginal and they could lead only subsistence level of existence. Private sector employment is almost unknown in these Provinces.<\/p>\n

Most small and medium enterprises were destroyed in the course of the 30 years long war and their immediate restoration is bleak due to lack of capital and entrepreneur skills.
\nPresently there are only a few micro and small enterprises.<\/p>\n

The educated youth clamor for limited government jobs with little success. The district is resourceful but utilization of resources is minimal due to lack of entrepreneur skills.<\/p>\n

The result is widespread unemployment resulting in poverty and misery for many. The parents dream of sending their youth to foreign countries, rather unsuccessfully.<\/p>\n

The key to rejuvenate the Northern and Eastern Regions is through development of micro, small and medium enterprises and encourage the youth towards self-employment.<\/p>\n

Governance in the Provincial Councils<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Primary duty of the Provincial Councils like any governing structure in the modern globalised economy is to guide, facilitate, and regulate the development process within the territory for the other actors to take charge of the actual development agenda. This is in addition to the traditional service delivery expected from these tiers of governance. The most important actor in the development process is the private sector. But the Provincial Councils do not expect big fishes but only small fishes. However it is irony to say that they miserably failed may be due to lethargy or engaging most of the time in finding faults for political gains or incompetency or all of these taken together<\/p>\n

Now to the Ignored, Development Oriented Out of the Box Item in the Provincial Council List<\/strong><\/p>\n

Out of 34 items in the Provincial Council List of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution the Item No 21 opens a new outlook of opportunity for the economic development of the Provincial Councils.<\/p>\n

I quote in full the Item No 21 in the Provincial Council List of the 13th amendment.<\/p>\n

\u201cSubject to the formulation and implementation of National policy in regard to development and planning ,the power to promote, establish and engage in agricultural ,industrial and commercial and trading enterprises and other income generating projects within the province without prejudice to the power of the government and public corporations to have such enterprises and projects\u2019<\/p>\n

Why this provision has not come to the notice of devolutionists is a miracle. Even it had not received due attention of \u201cWayamba\u201d,Provincial Council -the leading new path finder of the early 90s of the last century for innovative initiatives is beyond comprehension.<\/p>\n

Whatever it may be let us have a fresh look and think and act innovatively.<\/p>\n

Interpretation of Provisions In the Item No 21<\/strong><\/p>\n

The item No 21 defines the scope within which any provincial Council could exercise their power, but opens vital areas that could be imaginatively make use of .<\/p>\n

The powers include the power<\/p>\n