TNA talks with Government

TNA talks with Government

Both parties agreed to move forward - Dr Wijesinghe Tamil National Alliance delegation headed by its leader R. Sampanthan met with a government delegation headed by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to discuss an acceptable constitutional arrangement for a political settlement. Previously the talks had been called off after the TNA requested a written communiqué about the discussion. "However, both parties have agreed to move forward in a fresh round of talks," said Parliamentarian Dr. Rajeewa Wijesinghe who took part in the talks representing the government. The TNA had placed a set of proposals in March before the government delegation in regard to the structure of governance, the division of subjects and functions between the Centre and the devolved units, fiscal and financial powers. Discussion to continue Speaking to BBC Tamil Service, TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandra said “discussion with the government will continue on the basis of proposals put forward by TNA in March 2011, constitutional amendments proposed by Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge Government and All Party Roundtable Conference proposals". "However we have to wait and see, ” added MP Premachandran. Parliamentarian Dr Rajeewa Wijesinghe told BBC Sandeshaya that talks continued for more than two hours. “Both parties agreed not to divulge further details of matters discussed during talks” he said. ================================================== Amnesty slams Sri Lanka’s inquiry on civil war  J. BALAJI           NEW DELHI, September 16, 2011 The Amnesty International has slammed the method of inquiry conducted by the Sri Lankan government into the civil war as it was “fundamentally flawed and provides no accountability for atrocities”. The report of the Amnesty International -- When will they get justice? “exposed the shortcomings” of the inquiry commission -- the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), appointed by the Mahinda Rajapakse government in May 2010, it said.         FULL STORY>>> =========================================== Human Rights on the Indian Subcontinent Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Before I call Mr Steve Baker to move the motion, I remind Back Benchers that a large number of people wish to take part in this debate and that therefore Mr Speaker has put a five-minute limit on Back-Bench contributions. 3.30 pm Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con): I beg to move, That this House has considered the issue of Human Rights on the Indian Subcontinent. I am extremely grateful to the Backbench Business Committee for making this debate possible. My predecessor, Paul Goodman, took this issue extremely seriously and I am sure that had this mechanism been available he would have called such a debate. I am also extremely grateful to the Members who turned out to support me at the Committee: my hon. Friends the Members for Colne Valley (Jason McCartney), for Burton (Andrew Griffiths) and for Birmingham, Yardley (John Hemming), my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford North (Mr Scott) who spoke about Sri Lanka, the right hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr MacShane) and the hon. Member for Scunthorpe (Nic Dakin). Full Story>>>