Minister Vitharana refutes TNA claims :
PSC talks will conclude in six months
by P. Krishnaswamy
Senior
Minister of Scientific Affairs Prof. Tissa Vitharana who refuted TNA
claims that the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on power devolution
was a delaying tactic of the Government said that the PSC has been
mandated to conclude its deliberations within six months.
A report would be submitted by then recommending constitutional
amendments to further strengthen unity and communal amity in the
country, he said. Prof. Vitharana who chaired the previous All Party
Representative Committee (APRC) said that he considered the PSC a
suitable continuation of the deliberation process on power devolution
and the TNA should join the talks without laying down any
pre-conditions. All political parties, including the TNA, should take
part in the discussions in a spirit of goodwill and cooperation to reach
a consensus on the contentious issues considering larger national
interests, he said.
Mutual respect and understanding at the talks is a sure way to refute
and nullify the hostile criticism against the Government and the
leadership levelled by sections of the international community, he said.
Seeking foreign intervention is totally unwarranted and would
obstruct the talks and, therefore, the TNA or any other party should
desist from such an approach, he said. Nothing short of talks would help
in resolving internal issues, he said.
The APRC, during the course of its 130 sittings over three years, had
unanimously decided not to encourage demands for devolution units on
ethnic-based sub-provincial levels since it would divide the country on
communal lines. Instead, it was decided to consider national community
councils on the lines of the Belgium model to address grievances and the
special needs of ethnic groups concentrated in the central hill country
and the Eastern province, he said. He considered the LLRC report as a
very good report and its proper implementation would help allay
criticisms against the Government.
The criticisms are based mostly on the highly biassed Darusman
Report, he said.
Seeking foreign intervention is totally unwarranted and would
obstruct the talks and, therefore, the TNA or any other party should
desist from such an approach, he said. Nothing short of talks would help
in resolving internal issues, he said.
The APRC, during the course of its 130 sittings over three years, had
unanimously decided not to encourage demands for devolution units on
ethnic-based sub-provincial levels since it would divide the country on
communal lines. Instead, it was decided to consider national community
councils on the lines of the Belgium model to address grievances and the
special needs of ethnic groups concentrated in the central hill country
and the Eastern province, he said.
He considered the LLRC report as a very good report and its proper
implementation would help allay criticisms against the Government. The
criticisms are based mostly on the highly biassed Darusman Report, he
said. |