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Devolution committee for Tamils mulling consensus document
As Sri Lankan forces are poised to capture the last areas held by Tigers, the government appointed committee to work out a new power devolution package for the Tamil dominated north.
As Sri Lankan forces are poised to capture the last areas held by Tigers, the government appointed committee to work out a new power devolution package for the Tamil dominated north, says, it favours a 'consensus document'.
The All Party Representative Committee (APRC), set up in 2006, has now finalised its report recommending power devolution formula for the Tamils, according to officials.
The new devolution assumes significance as President Mahinda Rajapaksa had assured India and other nations that the government proposes a fair devolution for the Tamil dominated northern areas.
The interim report of the committee headed by a senior cabinet minister Tissa Vitharna, was submitted to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January 23, 2008.
The APRC is expected to meet again on February 16 and 17, to take a final decision on the report. The interim report had suggested recruitment of Tamil speaking police personnel, procurement of equipment to transact business in Tamil language and induction of recruit interpreter in the North.
Prof Tissa Vitarana, the Chairman of the APRC that is working out the package, has said the finalisation of the report is making good progress, reports The Island Newspaper.
The process is also significant as the Lankan army has won a string of major victories over the guerrillas in recent weeks, capturing their political capital Kilinochchi and pushed out of the strategic Mullaittivu town.
