Jan 26, Colombo: Only politicians in the Northern and Eastern Provinces demand land and police powers, not the people, Economic Development Minister of Sri Lanka Basil Rajapaksa said.

The Minister noted that the people in the North and East have not demanded for either land or police powers.

Devolving Land and police powers to the Northern and Eastern Provinces under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution is a demand of Sri Lanka's major Tamil political party Tamil National Alliance.

Minister Rajapaksa explained that the people in the North and East wanted land to cultivate and carry out their livelihoods and protection from terrorism and abductions.

The government, Rajapaksa has said, would provide these necessities of the people.

However, he has pointed out that the government did not have any intention to devolve land and police powers to the provinces.

According to the Minister, the people in the North and East were enjoying the full benefits of peace.

He has observed that the Wanni District has recorded the highest poverty reduction levels in the country after Colombo and Gampaha Districts.