The Hindu : International : Consensus on devolution of power, says Sri Lanka

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Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006
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Consensus on devolution of power, says Sri Lanka

B. Muralidhar Reddy

To be basis for talks to find solution to the national question

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Tuesday claimed to have arrived at an all-party consensus on "devolution of power" in efforts towards resolution of the ethnic conflict, even as the Sri Lanka Army bombed the suburbs of Kilinochchi in pursuit of "identified" LTTE targets.

At a news conference here, All-Parties Representative Conference (APRC) chairman Tissa Vitarana said: "We will as quickly as possible try to reach a final consensus and come out with a common position, which can be the basis for talks with all parties concerned to work out a lasting negotiated solution to the national question."

The APRC had been mandated to advise the President on the approach towards resolution of the ethnic issue. The conference acquired added significance recently after the United National Party (UNP) agreed to nominate its representatives to the body following a memorandum of understanding with the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The announcement was made in the midst of a conference of co-chairs of Sri Lanka in Washington to take stock of the volatile security environment in the island nation to consider possible steps to halt violence.

Mr. Vitarana said members had also taken a decision to agree to requests from Anandasangaree of TULF and the leaders of the EPRLF and PLOTE to address the conference.

Tiger bases bombed

The Sri Lanka Air Force bombed an "identified" Tiger base north of Puikudiruppu in the morning. While the Army claimed that the raids caused severe damage to the LTTE military facilities, TamilNet reported that the Kfir bombers hit the suburbs of Kilinochchi and a jungle area in the district. "Students and children fled school premises as the bombers flew at a lower altitude and the impact of the explosions was felt in the buildings in the town. No casualties were reported."

TNA complaint

In a complaint to the Parliament Speaker, the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs from the east alleged that a paramilitary Karuna group operative, identifying himself as Gunanan, operating from the group's office in Batticaloa town, controlled by the Sri Lanka Army, issued death threats to them.

"If the eight parliamentarians from Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Amparai, did not resign their posts before coming Monday, November 27, they would be assassinated, the group has warned. Four key members of the TNA, two MPs, an ex-MP and a to-be-nominated MP have been assassinated during the last two years," they said.

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