– The Governors Forum, which cited certain issues that had arisen as a result of the postponement of the provincial council election yesterday, urged the government to hold the polls under the old proportional representation system.A statement issued by the governors’ forum said the provincial council administration had become a single-party affair as ruling NPP MPs have begun interfering with the affairs of provincial councils.Also, the statement said the entire government machinery is becoming one that is centred on a single person.

“The situation is such that Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary is saying the provincial council election will not be held this year. A general secretary of a party cannot decide when the provincial council election can be held. The Supreme Court held that a provincial council election could be postponed by a referendum. This verdict was given when Chandrika Kumaratunga administration postponed the provincial council election in 1999,” the statement added.“We urge the government to hold the provincial council election under the old proportional representation system without taking cover behind the select committee which has been appointed to look into provincial council polls,” it also said.

The statement has been signed by former governors Senthil Thondaman, M. L. A. M. Hizbullah, Shan Wijeya Lal de Silva, Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Suren Ragawan, Lalith U. Gamage, Maithri Gunaratne, Sarath Ekanayake, Peshala Jayaratne, Anura Vidamagamage, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and Rajith Keerthi Thennekoon.