APRC to discuss SLFP's final draft on power sharing

by Shanika Sriyananda

The final draft prepared by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party on power sharing will be subjected to discussions at the All Party Representatives Committee (APRC) meeting scheduled to commence next week.

The SLFP's document, which was heavily criticised by the Jathika Hela Urumaya for the non-inclusion of the unitary state and for not giving the foremost place to Buddhism, has already been circulated among the 13 political parties.

APRC Chairman and Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Tissa Vitharana told the 'Sunday Observer' that the two remaining parties - the JHU and the CWC would also submit their proposals to the Committee soon.

"They wanted to wait until the SLFP submits their proposals to the APRC", he said adding that he was optimistic that these two parties would present their proposals to solve the national problem during the APRC deliberations next week.

The initial draft of the APRC was prepared by Prof. Vitharana taking into consideration the proposals submitted by the Expert Panel and later the main two political parties have also submitted their proposals to the APRC.

The 13 political parties excluding the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) will discuss the issue of devolution of power and will reach a common consensus to solve the national problem.