Advisory Committee on NE crisis : Parties back President's move

by Jayantha Sri Nissanka

All political parties at the All Party Conference will decide on the nominees to the proposed Advisory Committee, to formulate proposals to devolve power, as a measure to resolve the North East conflict.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday proposed the formation of an Advisory Committee when the All Party Conference met at Temple Trees under his chairmanship.

Political parties agreed with the President's proposal at the meeting as the President stressed the need to move speedily towards finding a just solution at a time the European Union had banned the LTTE. The President described the ban as a 'window of opportunity' to resolve the ethnic crisis. Leaders of Political parties are now having discussions with their rank and file to select suitable nominees to the proposed Advisory Committee.

A political party spokesman told the 'Sunday Observer' that the names of their nominees to the Committee would be finalised during the course of this week.

UNP Deputy General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said the Political Affairs Committee and the Executive Committee of the party would decide on the nominees. The nominees of the United Peoples' Freedom Alliance (UPFA) would be decided by President Rajapaksa who is the head of the government. CWC Spokesman, R. Yogarajan said they would decide on the nominee tomorrow.

SLMC General Secretary, Hasan Ali said his leader Rauf Hakeem was expected back in the country today. 'We will summon an emergency meeting of the party High Command to discuss this matter', he added.

Jathika Hela Urumaya leader Prof. Ellawala Medhananda thera said the JHU party would decide on the nominee once the President officially makes a request.

Upcountry People's Front member R. Radhakrishnan and the National Unity Alliance High Command member Mohammed Yasim said they too would submit their nominees this week.