By Raj Sivanathan
For nearly four decades, Sri Lanka’s Provincial Council system introduced through the 13th Amendment has stood as the primary institutional framework for devolution. It was conceived as a political solution to address the longstanding grievances of the Tamil people, particularly in the North and East.
However, the lived reality of devolution over the past thirty years tells a very different story.
While the Parliament of Sri Lanka continues to dominate national law making, the Provincial Councils have functioned unevenly, with significant disparities in legislative output, administrative capacity, and economic outcomes across provinces.
Provincial Statutes and Uneven Development
Although there is no officially consolidated dataset, a realistic estimate of provincial legislative activity over time reveals a clear imbalance:
Western Province:
80 to 120 statutes Highest activity with strong administrative capacity
Central Province: 50 to 80 statutes Moderate and consistent Southern Province: 50 to 75 statutes Stable governance
North Western Province: 45 to 70 statutes Agriculture focused
Sabaragamuwa Province: 40 to 65 statutes Moderate output Uva Province: 30 to 50 statutes Lower capacity
North Central Province: 30 to 50 statutes Irrigation and rural focus
Eastern Province: 20 to 40 statutes Politically inconsistent
Northern Province: 15 to 30 statutes Severely limited with only one full term
A System Created for the North Benefiting the South?
The Provincial Council system was fundamentally
introduced to respond to Tamil political demands.
Yet over time it is the southern provinces that have utilised devolution more effectively.
In particular the Western Province has demonstrated how even limited devolved powers can be translated into tangible economic outcomes. Today it contributes approximately 45 percent of Sri Lanka’s GDP driven by administrative continuity institutional strength and consistent policy implementation.
In contrast the Northern Province remains at the lower end of national economic contribution. Its limited number of statutes and restricted period of Provincial Council operation with only one full term have significantly constrained its development trajectory.
This raises a critical question How can a system designed to empower marginalised regions end up reinforcing regional inequality
Post War Expectations vs Ground Reality
The end of the war brought with it a clear expectation that political devolution would translate into economic empowerment self-governance and long term stability for the North and East.
However more than a decade later,
Economic transformation has not materialised Institutional capacity remains weak
Youth migration continues at alarming levels
Strategic economic assets remain under central control
The decades of bloodshed loss of life and destruction of property were endured with the hope of achieving self- determination and economic dignity. Yet these aspirations remain largely unfulfilled.
The Case for Immediate Action
The current political moment presents an opportunity for the National People’s Power NPP government to take decisive action.
A credible path forward must include
Immediate Provincial Council elections without delay Full and equal implementation of the 13th Amendment across all provinces
Genuine devolution of administrative and economic powers
Creation of inter provincial competition to drive development
Empowering provinces equally will not weaken the state. It will strengthen it by enabling balanced regional growth and reducing structural disparities.
Conclusion From Promise to Delivery
The experience of the past three decades is clear: Devolution has existed more in theory than in practice Legislative activity is uneven and limited in impact Economic power remains centralised
If Sri Lanka is to move forward as a stable and inclusive
nation devolution must evolve from a symbolic political arrangement into a meaningful economic framework.
For the North and East this is not simply a governance issue. It is a matter of justice dignity and future opportunity.
The NPP must act now. Not gradually, not selectively but decisively and without delay.
