Prof Vitharana to brief Malwatte prelate on APRC progress

By Ananth Palakidnar

Minister of Science and Technology and Chairman of the All Party Representative Committee Prof Tissa Vitharana will brief the Prelate of the Malwatte Chapter, the Most Ven Thibbotuwawe Siddhartha on the progress made by the APRC on its initiative in the political parties represented in Parliament presenting their proposals in finding a political solution to the North-East crisis.

Prof Vitharana told the Sunday Observer that of the thirteen parties represented in Parliament, ten parties have presented their proposals to the APRC. "The parties have responded in an encouraging manner by submitting their proposals. The Minister and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena said that his party would put forward its proposals this week.

The Ceylon Workers' Congress and the Jathika Hela Urumaya said that they would present their proposals once they go through the SLFP proposals. The discussions were held with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna leader Somawansa Amerasinghe and myself to convince the party to submit its proposals to the APRC.

The Tamil parties EPRLF, PLOTE and EPDP have promptly responded with their proposals.Therefore once all proposals are in place hopefully in a couple of weeks the APRC would move into the next stage of holding discussions over the proposals submitted to it."

Commenting on the UNP's stance with regard to the APRC, Prof Vitharana said that the party was very positive towards its roles and added that certain key issues should be amplified. The Minister said that he would be also briefing the Prelate of the Asgiriya chapter on the progress made by the APRC.