Wignas's devolution proposal:

TNA leader declines to comment

by Manjula Fernando

TNA leader R. Sampanthan declined to comment on the Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran's proposal for a 'dynamic system of devolution of power' instead of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, when the Sunday Observer asked as to that was the TNA's stance on the issue.

In a brief interview with the Sunday Observer on Thursday on what would transpire in his discussions with visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the octogenarian said, he 'did not wish to talk about new things and old things'.

"Nothing is new, nothing is old, it's all part of a continuing process. What eventually emerges must be reasonable, workable and durable.

That's all I am concerned about," he said.

Wigneswaran told The Hindu early this week, "The 13th Amendment can never be the final solution. We would recommend to him (Indian PM) that it is time to replace it with a more dynamic system that would ensure maximum power-sharing for the North and the East".

On what he will discuss with the visiting leader, The TNA Leader said he would raise that there should be a finality to the issue of power-sharing. "Power sharing arrangements must be finalised in such a way, within the framework of a united, undivided Sri Lanka, to which we have committed and on which there cannot be a compromise".