Sri Lanka, June 10 -- It seems to me that there is a very simple solution indeed to get over this feature, and to ensure that provincial councils work for the people they are supposed to represent. First, I would suggest that we abolish direct elections to provincial councils and instead constitute them through representatives of the Divisional Councils. One each would be ample, which would make each Provincial Council have about half the number of members now allocated.

I had thought to concentrate in this series on education, and that will indeed be the principal focus of attention. But recent developments make me feel I should look also at other areas, which seem both controversial and interesting.

I refer in particular to the quest...