Home-grown solution will address issues:

Reviving PSC vital – Presidential Spokesman

by Manjula Fernando

“A home-grown solution is needed to achieve reconcilitation acceptable to all communities in the country. This has to come from all stakeholders and others in Sri Lanka”, Presidential Spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said.

He said Parliament has created a forum, a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to achieve this goal and it is the duty of those seeking a negotiated settlement to the remaining contentious issues to take part and expedite the process.

The PSC, set up with 31 members - 19 from the Government coalition and 12 representing opposition parties including three from the TNA, had come to a standstill since 2012 as the UNP, JVP and the TNA boycotted sittings.

Samaranayake said even the implementation of the 13th Amendment had met with resistance since it was not a home-grown solution.

“Some believe the 13th Amendment is the only solution, but there are others who oppose it and feel that it was something imposed on them without their consent.”

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had repeatedly told foreign envoys that for a solution to be sustainable it must have the views of all parties who should strive to reach a common goal.

“There were solutions in the past which had been suggested and some failed during implementation. These did not address all issues.”

“If stakeholders do not participate, a settlement found without their consent will create further problems. Hence, a quorum is crucial,” he said.