Devolution package report for North Lanka soon: Govt

Devolution package report for North Lanka soon: Govt
T V Sriram Colombo, Jan 30 (PTI) With India pressing for an early political solution to the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka, an all party committee has finalised its recommendation on the devolution package for northern areas that will offer enhanced rights and privileges to the minority Tamil community.The All Party Representative Committee (APRC), set up in 2006, has now finalised its report recommending a power devolution formula as President Mahinda Rajapaksa has indicated his desire to hold elections in the embattled North this year, officials said.Worried over the safety of civilian Tamils, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on a visit this week, asked Colombo to quickly move from military victories to the political aspect of addressing the ethnic problem.Mukherjee was assured by Rajapaksa that he intended to address the problem politically and is ready to implement and even improve upon the Devolution Package for ethnic Tamils.The committee, which is preparing the final report has wrapped up its deliberations after 104 sessions despite the 12 political parties representing it failing to arrive at a consensus on certain issues.It has reportedly recommended abolition of the concurrent list, and introduction of two lists outlining powers to be vested in provincial councils and central government.The interim report of the committee headed by senior cabinet minister Tissa Vitharna was submitted to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on January 23, 2008.The copies of the report have now been handed over to the political party representatives for their perusal and the APRC is expected to meet again on February 16 and 17 to take a final decision, officials said. PTI