PSC Chairman invites political parties to make submissions

by Manjula Fernando

The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to discuss devolution of power, chaired by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has invited all registered political parties to take part in the process and submit suggestions for a future political and constitutional framework that will help in reconciliation among communities.

The gesture is expected to speed up the realisation of its mandate.

Chairman Nimal Siripala de Silva told the Sunday Observer that political parties can either make oral or written submissions on their collective policy over the issues under discussion at the PSC. The nineteen member committee appointed by the Speaker 'to recommend and report on political and constitutional measures to empower the people of Sri Lanka to live as one nation', held its last meeting for 2013 on December 18.

The invitation was extended to the parties at the last meeting.

Asked about the TNA's criticism of the Census that is currently carried out by the Census and Statistics Department to count the number of dead, disappeared and the injured, as a direct consequence of 30 years of terrorism, the Minister declined to comment saying that as the Chairman of the PSC he had to maintain independence.

The Minister said all parties were free to make submissions to the PSC but any comments or statements outside this process will have no impact on finding solutions to issues at hand. The PSC invitation has also been extended to the SLMC, which has shown its displeasure over its exclusion in the discussions between the Government and the TNA with several other major parties.

The PSC will meet next in the third week of January.