President Ranil Wickremesinghe will present the Government proposals related to the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the constitution to Parliament next week.
The President will do so while making a special statement where he will explain in detail, the proposals to Parliament. An All-Party Conference was held under the patronage of the President on July 26 to inform the Party leaders representing Parliament about the programme of the Government in relation to national reconciliation.
The Party leaders during the discussion presented their views and suggestions. After the completion of the preliminary work on the devolution of powers, Bills are to be submitted to the Parliament regarding the conduct of affairs at the Provincial Councils.
Under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, when transferring powers to the Provincial Councils, the power to make decisions regarding certain subjects is vested with the Central Government and these subjects must be legally announced.
Earlier, the President emphasized that he will present the best proposals related to solving the problems of the people of the North and East and added the leaders of the Tamil parties should decide whether to take them forward or not. The President emphasized there were no plans to merge the Northern and Eastern Provinces and that the aim of this programme is not to seek political mileage but to solve the problems of the North-East Tamil people.
The President has decided to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution only if all the party leaders representing the Parliament agree to a full devolution of powers.
The President is of the opinion that the consent of all the Party leaders representing the Parliament is necessary for granting the Police powers mentioned in the 13th Amendment of the Constitution and for that a two third majority in the Parliament is required.
The President during a recent discussion with the members of Parliament representing North and East said the draft of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) has been referred to the Attorney General to determine whether it is compatible with the constitution and will soon be presented to Parliament and the National Action Plan on Reconciliation drafted by the ONUR will also be presented to the Cabinet soon.
Shiromi Abeyasinghe