Those elected to the next Parliament from the north and east will be invited to participate in the All Party Representatives Committee (APRC) in an attempt to work out a framework for devolution of power, APRC chairman and Minister Tissa Vitarana said.
“We know the representatives of the people of the north and east will be elected freely by the people of the area without any duress at the next general election with the defeat of the LTTE and they will be willing to join the APRCs deliberations,” he said.
The APRC in its interim report recommended the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to devolve power to the provinces, but without the participation of the UNP, the JVP and the TNA, it lacked proper representation of all parties in Parliament. “We have to draw into the process all the parties from Parliament once the elections are over,” Prof. Vitarana said adding that President Rajapaksa in his manifesto had said that the APRC would continue to be the forum for discussion to arrive at a “wide consensus that is required for national cohabitation.” |
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