Thai Pongal celebrations in Jaffna: More land in North to be released- PM [January 17 2016]

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told a national event to mark Thai Pongal in Jaffna that 4,600 acres of land in the North were still under the Sri Lanka Army and will be released in two months.

He said the Prevention of Terrorism Act was obsolete. An Act to Prevent International Terrorism will be introduced in line with the United Nations Law by the middle of this year.

“We are discussing with Japan and South Africa about the mechanism to give effect to the Geneva Resolution, and advice is also sought on the setting up of a Truth Commission. We would also set up a Compassionate Council comprising religious leaders and discuss the procedure to prosecute offenders. Our decision in these issues will be conveyed to the people in due course,” he said.

Referring to the Constitution, he said he was not willing to draft a constitution with G.L. Peiris’s junta according to the way it was done when the 18th Amendment was drafted.

“They have realised the importance of transparency only after their defeat.All 225 members of Parliament will participate in drafting a constitution. President Maithripala Sirisena had also said he was not prepared to draft a constitution with the juntas.