By P K Balachandran
01 Feb 2012 02:27:00 AM IST
01 Feb 2012 02:27:00 AM IST
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday said the system of devolution in the island nation should be prescribed only by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to be set up for the purpose, and not by him or the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). The President was responding to a query whether he had told Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, that he was “committed” to going beyond the 13th Amendment of the Lankan Constitution to devolve powers to the provinces.
“I had told Krishna that I had no objection to going beyond the 13th Amendment, and that I had said so earlier too. However, I added that I could not take a decision on the matter arbitrarily. The PSC, in which all parties in parliament would be represented, was the best forum to discuss and take a decision on the matter,” Rajapaksa said.
No Details of 13th-Plus
When asked about “13 th Amendment-Plus” he said: “I cannot reveal it. If I say anything on it, people will say, I am biased. Let parliament decide. I’ll accept its recommendations.”
No Special Status for TNA
Asked whether the stalled talks with the TNA would be resumed, Rajapaksa said that he was ready to talk to the TNA, or any other party which wanted to talk on the issue, but decisions on a political solution could be taken only by the PSC. He urged the TNA to join the PSC. Intervening, Sajin Vaas Gunawardene, a presidential aide, blamed the TNA for the stalled talks.
Polls in Tamil North
On when elections to the Tamil-dominated Northern Province Provincial Council would be held, the President said that the elections would be held as soon as the voters’ list was revised.
ICG Curbs Poaching Rajapaksa
Rajapaksa said that the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) had helped reduce the intrusion of TN fishermen into Lankan waters in recent times. He said that the ICG had been patrolling the Indian side of the IMBL in the Palk Straits effectively. But Lanka would like joint Indo-Lankan patrolling and had made a proposal for it.
Attacks on Lankans
Regarding the recent protests against Lankan personalities in TN, Rajapaksa said that he had raised the issue with Krishna, when he was here recently.
No Complaint on China’s Role
Rajapaksa said that neither India nor the US had expressed any concern over China’s increasing economic and strategic role in Sri Lanka. “India has never raised the issue with me. Not even the US has,” Rajapaksa said.
Not to Submit LLRC Report
Rajapaksa has made it clear that Lanka will not present the report of its Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission to the UN Human Rights Commission, which is to meet in Geneva in March.
“I had told Krishna that I had no objection to going beyond the 13th Amendment, and that I had said so earlier too. However, I added that I could not take a decision on the matter arbitrarily. The PSC, in which all parties in parliament would be represented, was the best forum to discuss and take a decision on the matter,” Rajapaksa said.
No Details of 13th-Plus
When asked about “13 th Amendment-Plus” he said: “I cannot reveal it. If I say anything on it, people will say, I am biased. Let parliament decide. I’ll accept its recommendations.”
No Special Status for TNA
Asked whether the stalled talks with the TNA would be resumed, Rajapaksa said that he was ready to talk to the TNA, or any other party which wanted to talk on the issue, but decisions on a political solution could be taken only by the PSC. He urged the TNA to join the PSC. Intervening, Sajin Vaas Gunawardene, a presidential aide, blamed the TNA for the stalled talks.
Polls in Tamil North
On when elections to the Tamil-dominated Northern Province Provincial Council would be held, the President said that the elections would be held as soon as the voters’ list was revised.
ICG Curbs Poaching Rajapaksa
Rajapaksa said that the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) had helped reduce the intrusion of TN fishermen into Lankan waters in recent times. He said that the ICG had been patrolling the Indian side of the IMBL in the Palk Straits effectively. But Lanka would like joint Indo-Lankan patrolling and had made a proposal for it.
Attacks on Lankans
Regarding the recent protests against Lankan personalities in TN, Rajapaksa said that he had raised the issue with Krishna, when he was here recently.
No Complaint on China’s Role
Rajapaksa said that neither India nor the US had expressed any concern over China’s increasing economic and strategic role in Sri Lanka. “India has never raised the issue with me. Not even the US has,” Rajapaksa said.
Not to Submit LLRC Report
Rajapaksa has made it clear that Lanka will not present the report of its Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission to the UN Human Rights Commission, which is to meet in Geneva in March.
