The UNP today stated that a false fear has been created regarding police and land powers for Provincial Councils because the government has no other topic to talk about.

The government is unable talk about the unemployment, cost of living and the economy of the country, therefore it needs to create a problem in order to go face the public, UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said.

He stated that for awhile the government dragged on the Halal issue and since recently they have clung on to the 13th Amendment. Actually Halal and the 13th Amendment are not the main problems existing in the country today, he said.

He stated that the problems the masses have to deal with are how they will live, how do they find employment for their children and how to eliminate the lawlessness in the country. “Those are the problems.”

Kiriella questioned why the government has not repealed the 13th Amendment yet, despite demands by the JHU and NFF, even though it has two-thirds majority. “If it’s so bad, why don’t they repeal it,” the UNP Parliamentarian inquired.

He claimed that the reason the 13th Amendment is not being repealed is because the government fears it will lose its two-thirds majority in Parliament.

He stated that some parties within the ruling alliance itself are against repealing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. The government is asking the UNP to join the PSC while the government itself does not have a common stance.

Kiriella stated that if the government announces the alliance’s stance on the 13th Amendment tomorrow, the United National Party is willing to participate in the PSC.

“In short, the government has no policy on power devolution,” he told reporters in Colombo today. He also stated that power devolution is important as the country cannot unite without it.