Political parties submit devolution proposals

COLOMBO: Political parties represented in the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) have commenced submitting proposals to the Committee on a possible constitutional framework for resolving the ethnic conflict.

“At this week’s meeting the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) presented its own proposals on a future devolution arrangement. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) also forwarded their proposals during the last two days,” APRC Chairman Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana said.

He said the Committee was now in the second stage of its agenda which comprises the discussion on a future devolution arrangement and the relationship between the Centre and the peripheries within such framework.

“The Committee was of the view that it is better to give each party an opportunity to forward their own ideas on a future constitutional arrangement before starting deliberations on one particular model. It is after such a process that we could agree on a framework agreeable to all,” he said.

The APRC was appointed at the sixth session of the All Party Conference (APC) with representatives from different political parties represented at the APC except the United National Party.

It has been entrusted with the task of formulating a future constitutional arrangement capable of finding a peaceful solution to the ethnic conflict.

The three-point agenda of the Committee constitutes identifying the stake holders and their issues, examining matters regarding devolution and discussing transitional arrangements.