Tamil and Muslim political leaders in Sri Lanka say they have agreed for wider devolution of power for Sri Lanka's minorities..!!!

22 November, 2009 - Published 17:49 GMT


Tamils, Muslims 'to go beyond 13 amendment'


Mr. Ganesan says the struggle for Tamil rights continues despite the end of the war
Tamil and Muslim political leaders in Sri Lanka say they have agreed for wider devolution of power for Sri Lanka's minorities.
Mano Ganesan, leader of Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) told BBC Sandeshaya that the leaders who met in Switzerland during the week end agreed for devolution that goes beyond 13 amendment to the constitution.

"Although the war has ended, the struggle for Tamil rights have not," said the DPA leader.

The meeting, at the initiative of several Tamil and western non governmental organisations, was attended by several political parties representing almost all shades of Tamil and Muslim political opinion.

Political consensus

This is the first of such meeting in the recent past, aiming for political consensus on issues concerning Sri Lanka's Tamil and Muslim minorities.

Political leaders representing opposition and governing alliances attended the meeting.

Leaders of the main Tamil parliamentary party Tamil National Alliance as well as Tamils of Indian origin took part.

Apart from devolution of power, the leaders, some government ministers among them, discussed matters related to human rights situation, disappearances of Tamils and continued detention of internally displaced people (IDPs), Mr. Ganesan said.

A proposal to discuss the highly anticipated presidential election was rejected due to strong opposition by Ministers Douglas Devananda and Arumungam Thondaman as well as himself, added Mr. Ganesan.

20 November, 2009 | Sandeshaya...sinhala.bbc.co.uk