Thai Pongal celebrations in Jaffna:
More land in North to be released - PM
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. |