Land and police powers are with the government - President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa 

'No one can take land or police powers away from me.' the President Mahinda Rajapaksa made these remarks at the monthly breakfast meeting with the heads of print and electronic media institutions at Temple Trees yesterday. The President  stressed that no one could pressure him to devolve police and land powers and under no circumstances would he change his position. He yesterday made it clear that land and police powers are with the government. The president said this in response to a query by an editor whether it would create problems for the government if the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is able to emerge victorious at the Northern Provincial Council polls, while referring to a remark made by TNA's chief ministerial candidate, C.V. Vigneswaran, that he will act according to the powers vested to the provinces constitutionally. President Rajapaksa brushed the question aside saying, "Oya mona yakath kiyana tharam kalu nehe" (the devil is not so black as he is painted).

  

"We have faced severe problems and even if the TNA wins the NPC, it will not be a major issue as land and police powers are under me and it will remain like that," he added. When pointed out that the Constitution states the Central Government should seek the views of the relevant Provincial Councils when exercising land powers, the President said, "That is what we are doing right now."