I refer to the letter written by Mr. Miles M, in "The Island" of 15.06.06.

I fully agree with the view expressed by him regarding the Provincial Councils.

I had the opportunity of gaining some experience on provincial councils sometime ago when I was the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Home Affairs.

I strongly recommended the abolition of Provincial Council system. Provincial Councils have failed to achieve the objects for which they were created and they have become a financial burden to the country.

Regarding his inquiry about how I became the District Minister, firstly I must enlighten him by mentioning that there was no establishment called the Northern DDC. Section 45(1)(a) of the constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka empowers the President to appoint non-cabinet ministers from Members of Parliament and assign them subjects and functions.

Accordingly, the late J. R. Jayewardene appointed some members of parliament as District Ministers to all districts in Sri Lanka, and I was posted to the Jaffna district in the year 1979, two years prior to the establishment of District Development Councils.

The main function of the District Ministers happened to be the implementation and coordination of government policies and development activities of the districts.