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| Sunday, 4 December 2005 |
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A case for Indian model of devolution Western Province People's Front (WPPF) leader and Parliamentarian Mano Ganeshan told the Sunday Observer that President Mahinda Rajapakse should make the Indian model of devolution of power as the basis for negotiations to solve the ethnic crisis. Mano Ganeshan said that President Rajapakse in his policy statement stated that there would be a new beginning, outlining his stand on the ethnic issue and said that he would meet the LTTE leader. LTTE leader Pirapaharan in his Maveerar Day speech had called the new President as a pragmatist. President Rajapakse had also welcomed his speech. These are positive signs. We must remember that the LTTE leader also expressed his mistrust of Sinhala leadership in general, but not particularly about President Rajapakse. Therefore it is important to build confidence and trust. But we could not be carried away by these goodwill gestures Mano Ganeshan said. The WPPF leader said he could not agree with the unitary State concept since the Tamils have voted for federalism. The JHU and JVP have formally or informally stated that they were for the Indian model. This is a positive sign. "Now there is a consensus among major constituent parties of the UPFA. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe polled 4.7 million votes. We should not forget that this was `yes' for a federal solution. President Mahinda Rajapakse should hold a binding or non-binding referendum on the simple question whether the people are for unitary or federal solution. In India, the Central Government is called Union Government, and there are State Governments but we have only Provincial Councils. The draft Constitution put forward by the PA government in 2000, is a progressive one. The LTTE has given a period of time, but this cannot be indefinite. Sri Lankans, whether they are Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims, are tired of war. We are in a no war and no peace situation. This cannot be continued. If President Rajapakse announced his basis for talks, then the international community could make further efforts for the negotiation, Mano Ganeshan said. MPM |
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