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NEWS
VOLUME
Strenghtening the Provincial Council System
March-A
Prov Asses
Southern Provincial Council Representa- tives and Officials
Programme on Strengthening the Provincial Coun With the recent presentation of the APRC, and recognizing the re national dialogue on 20 years of the 13th Amendment and devolu Unit began work on two parallel programmes on the theme of th Provincial Councils and Devolution of Power, during the period M supported by Development Alternatives Inc (USAID).
A preliminary round of One Day Regional Meetings was held at ea with the attendance of the Chairman, Chief Ministers, Provincia possible of the Governor, with the purpose of outlining the conce and participation of Provincial Council officials, and clarifying logist
Participant suggestions were gathered regarding the areas to b resource persons required and ways of making the process pro fixed for the residential workshops.
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New Publications at CPA Papers written
CPA in the NEWS

NEWS
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2, 2008 March-April 2008
Assesment Provincial Needs 2008
senta-
ng the Provincial Council System
C, and recognizing the requirement for timely involvement in the h Amendment and devolution of power to the provinces, Outreach ammes on the theme of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, ower, during the period March –May 2008. This programme was s Inc (USAID).
al Meetings was held at each of the Provincial Council auditoriums hief Ministers, Provincial Ministers, Chief Secretaries and when ose of outlining the concept of this programme, garnering support icials, and clarifying logistics for the proposed residential workshops.
regarding the areas to be addressed at the planned workshops, making the process productive to stakeholders, and dates were
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CPA
Calandar in
of Events the NEWS ns
A Glance at Programmes

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the 13th Amendment and Devolution of Power
This month
NEWNEWNEWNEWNEW TITLESTITLESTITLESTITLESTITLES
Released in March 2008 this is the 28th Wave of this Public Opinio study on changing public opinion on key issues, ranging from p political developments.
• Solutions
• Eastern Elections
• International Involvement
• The APRC
• The Constitutional Debate
• Popularity of the President
• Perception of NGOs
“Sinhala Support for the Governments Military Campaign Strong: PCI,” Daily Mirror 30th March
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Acco supp cam supp Pres amo with the affec ethn of th Satis issue (46.4 com by N Whe to h com 83.2 Tam satis

month
NEWNEWNEWNEWNEW TITLESTITLESTITLESTITLESTITLES
ave of this Public Opinion Survey, offering data for a comparative y issues, ranging from perceptions on war and peace to current
ions
Involvement
tional Debate
the President NGOs
ents Military r 30th March
2
According to the results of the survey, Sinhala support for the Government’s military campaign continues to be strong whilst their support for peace talks has dropped to 16.6% President Rajapaksa’s strong popularity amongst the Sinhalese also remains unchanged, with high levels of approval for his handling of the war. His approval ratings are however affected by dissatisfaction expressed by all ethnic groups with regards to his management of the economy Satisfaction on NGO performance was another issue covered and majorities in the Sinhala (46.4%), Tamil (85.3%) and Muslim (52.3%) communities are satisfied with the work done by NGOs toward national development. Whereas in the case of NGO work with regards to human rights, a majority of the Sinhala community (39%) express dissatisfaction while 83.2% of the Tamils, 33.9% of the Up Country Tamils and 49.4% of the Muslims express satisfaction.
Agreements and Proposals for Devolution of Power in Sri Lanka (1926-2008)

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PRESS “National Security or Human Rights ”by Bhavani Fonseka & Pradeep Peris Nation Special Mar 2
PRESSPRESSPRESS PRESSPRESS Excuses: Edrisinha Amendment” “More Violation Seventeenth
Mirror Unconvincing the Mar Continuing
of 4th - REVIEW REVIEWREVIEWREVIEW REVIEWREVIEW the
Rohan
Daily
“The Dr Saravanamuttu Carnage LMD
Continues...”-
March
“Elections and Amendments : Democratic Governance Under Threat”-Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Mar 05 Morning Leader
“the Message of Muhamalai”by Dr P.Saravanamuttu, April 30th, Morning Leader
Statements & Press Releases Report on the Fact Finding Mission to Jaffna Feb 2008
http://www.cpalanka.org/research_papers/ Jaffna_Report_CPA_INFORM_April_2008.pdf Joint statement: Civil Soci- ety Solidarity with Interna- tional Humanitarian Organisations
http://www.cpalanka.org/Statements/ Civil_Society_Solidarity_with_International_ Humanitarian_Organisations.pdf
Please email staff articles to chandrika@cpalanka.org
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A GLANCE programm
March a “There was no democratic election in the East, but a Pillayans Election” by Sunanda Deshapriya Mar 26th Lakbima
out, inv worksh these se the imp Govern
One of t unlimit meant t the righ
observa the Mi Accoun The Int Budget and inf outcom budget new de budget accord accoun

PRESS or Human i Fonseka & ion Special
ing g
PRESSPRESSPRESS PRESSPRESS REVIEW REVIEWREVIEWREVIEW REVIEWREVIEW an ily
tu tinues...”-
March
ents : Under thy 05
alai”by April
er
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oci- rna- n
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A GLANCE AT programmes
GACP’s Budget Transparency project is funded by the International Budget Project which aims to increase public scrutiny of the Pradeshya Sabha level Budget Procedures. During March and April 2008 two phases of this programme were carried ocratic but a y Sunanda h Lakbima
out, involving firstly, sessions sensitizing elected members, and workshops for PS officials and citizens representing the Taxpayer in these selected areas. The main aim of these sessions was to emphasis the importance of ensuring transparency in the workings of Local Government Structures.
One of the main observations in most of these cases was the seemingly unlimited powers enjoyed by the Chairmen of these areas which meant that these officials dominated processes and rarely considered the right to a participatory approach in budgeting. In some cases powers were monopolized so that not even the Vice Chairman was allowed to share in decision making. This could be because of the almost unlimited powers given by the Pradeshya Sabha Act 15 of 1987 ,which observation was included in a set of recommendations submitted to the Ministry of Local Governance towards improving Budget Accountability in Pradeshya Sabhas. The International Budget Project was formed within the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in 1997 to assist civil society to analyze and influence government budget processes, institutions and outcomes. The IBP is interested particularly in the impact of the budget on poor and low-income people in developing countries or new democracies. The overarching aim of the project is to make budget systems more responsive to the needs of society and, accordingly, to make these systems more transparent and accountable to the public.

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MarMarMarMarMarch
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A
13th March Preliminary Needs Assesment Meeting Sabaragamuwa Province As initial groundwork for the USAID /DAI sponsored programme on - “Strengthening the Provincial Council System” , a team from Outreach Unit, CPA, traveled to Ratnapura to meet with officials of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, as well as to carry out a small scale assessment of regional citizens’ views of the work of the Provincial Council.
18th March Preliminary Needs Assessment Meeting North Western Province (As above)- venue North Western Provincial Council Kurunagala 25th March Preliminary Needs Assessment Meeting Southern Province (As above)- venue Southern Provincial Council Galle
27th March Preliminary Needs Assessment Meeting Uva Province (As above)- venue Uva Provincial Council, Badulla
22nd -23rd March Rohan Edrisinha spoke at a Jaffna Association Workshop organized The Asia Foundation. The works was held at Hotel Sapphire on 22 23rd March 2008. Rohan spoke on 22nd on Tracing the History of the L guage Issue in Sri Lanka. Speak included S. S. Wijayaratna, Chairm Legal Aid Commission, Pali Fernando P.C, Solicitor General, S Premajayantha, Minister of Educat C.V. Wigneswaran, Rauff Hake M.P., Prof. Tissa Vitharana, Mini of Science & Technology and Gunasekere, Attorney-at-Law.
CONTCONTCONTCONTCONTACT CT CT CT CT DET DET DETAILAILAILAILAILS DET DET Media Unit Tel 94-1-2375263
CentrCentrCentrCentrCentre fe fe fe fe for Por Por Por Por Policolicolicolicolicy Alternatives Alternatives Alternatives Alternatives Alternatives 24/2 24/2 24/2 24/2 24/2 28th 28th 28th 28th 28th Lane Lane Lane Lane Lane Governance and Anti Corruption Programme Tel 94-1-564404
OfOfOfOfOff F Flowlowlowlowlower F F F Rder Rder Rder Rder Rd Colombo Colombo Colombo Colombo Colombo 7 7 7 7 7 Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Lank Lank Lank Lanka Lank Tel el el el el 94-1-565304-6 94-1-565304-6 94-1-565304-6 94-1-565304-6 94-1-565304-6 Fax Fax Fax Fax Fax 94-4-714460 94-4-714460 94-4-714460 94-4-714460 94-4-714460 Compiled by Chandrika Gadiewasam- chand
Events @ the Centre

AprilAprilAprilAprilApril
2nd April Preliminary Needs Events @
25th April Meeting with ICSW Representative Ms.Solveig Askjem, World President, International Council on Social welfare arrived in Sri Lanka to attend the Award Ceremony of South Asian Academy for Good Governance and visit the Community Development Research and Training Institute. Outreach Unit organized a discussion of Civil Society leaders in Colombo on 25th April to welcome Ms Askjem. Around 30 civil society participated in the meeting. Ms.Solveig Askjem spoke on ICSW activities relating to social welfare, Social Development and Social Justice.. Assessment -North Central Province venue North Central Provincial Council, Anuradhapura
7th April Preliminary Needs Assessment-Central Province the
venue Central Provincial Council, Kandy
8th April Preliminary Needs Centre
Assessment-Western Province venue Western Provincial Council, Nugegoda
23rd March
risinha spoke at a Jaffna Bar ion Workshop organized by Foundation. The workshop at Hotel Sapphire on 22nd & h 2008. Rohan spoke on the racing the History of the Lan- sue in Sri Lanka. Speakers S. S. Wijayaratna, Chairman, id Commission, Palitha o P.C, Solicitor General, Susil antha, Minister of Education, neswaran, Rauff Hakeem, f. Tissa Vitharana, Minister ce & Technology and S.L.
re, Attorney-at-Law.
ONTONTONTONTONTACT CT CT CT CT DET DET DETAILAILAILAILAILS
DET DET Social Indicator ntrntrntrntrntre fe fe fe fe for Por Por Por Por Policolicolicolicolicy
Tel 94-1-2370474 Alternatives Alternatives Alternatives Alternatives Alternatives 4/2 4/2 4/2 4/2 4/2 28th 28th 28th 28th 28th Lane Lane
Lane Lane Lane Outreach Unit ff F Flowlowlowlowlower F F F Rder Rder Rder Rder Rd
Tel 94-1-2370801-4 Colombo Colombo Colombo Colombo Colombo 7 7 7 7 7 Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Lank Lank Lank Lanka
Lank Legal Unit 94-1-565304-6 94-1-565304-6 94-1-565304-6 94-1-565304-6 94-1-565304-6 Tel 94-1-2565304-Ext100 x x x x x 94-4-714460 94-4-714460 94-4-714460 94-4-714460 94-4-714460 ika Gadiewasam- chandrika@cpalanka.org
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