SL-President MR: Serious in implementing the 13th amendment to the constitution that will allow wider representation of Tamils!!! CAN WE TRUST HIM.???

29 April, 2010 - Published 17:20 GMT

Rajapaksha 'serious' on 13th amendment


Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa has said that he is serious in implementing the 13th amendment to the constitution that will allow wider representation to the Tamil community.
President Rajapaksa gave this assuance at a meeting with Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Sing.

The Indian prime minister,Dr. Manmohan Singh and Presidient Mahinda Rajapaksa had bilateral talks after the conclusion of the SAARC summit in Thimpu, Bhutan.

Renu Agal of BBC Hindi Service reporting from the summit site said that talks between the two leaders lasted for about half and hour.

After talks with the Indian Prime Minister, President Rakapaksa emphasised the need to speak to the Tamil population of the country who have not had a say in the political process of the country.

Presidient Rajapaksa further said that he is reaching out to the Tamils and keeping in touch with the leadership of the Tamil people.

Renu Agal said that indications are that Presidient Rajapaksha will be visiting India soon for further talks.

BBCSINHALA
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 30, 2010
Panel to examine ethnic discord in Sri Lanka

Sandeep Dikshit

Rajapaksa briefs Manmohan on political settlement plans

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Plan to set up an Upper House in Parliament to ensure representation of all ethnic communities

All sections of Tamil community to be consulted, including those not represented in Parliament
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THIMPHU: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about his government's plans to reach a political settlement with the Tamil ethnic community, which will include the setting up of a panel of eminent persons to examine all issues of discord.

In a 30-minute meeting here on Thursday, Mr. Rajapaksa also detailed the move to set up an Upper House in Parliament that would ensure greater representation to all ethnic communities and add weight to the move towards a political settlement, senior Foreign Ministry officials said.

The Sri Lankan President said he would also consult with all sections of the Tamil community, including those not represented in Parliament, to infuse a sense of participation and equality in the nation's re-building process after the end of conflict between the armed forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The two leaders also discussed the continuation of high-level exchanges, which will include a visit by Mr. Rajapaksa after about a couple of months. Dr. Singh said he looked forward to the visit which would further contribute to strengthening relations.

Comprehensive win


The Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Rajapaksa on his victory in the presidential elections, which was followed by a comprehensive win by his party in the recently held parliamentary polls.

The two leaders met after an interaction between External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and his Sri Lankan counterpart, G.L. Peiris, here on Tuesday.

The two leaders underscored the need to expeditiously settle all those displaced by the war between the LTTE and the armed forces, with Mr. Krishna stressing on the need to rehabilitate them with dignity and providing them with livelihood.

In a recent report, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees stated that resettlement had started after a three-week hiatus due to the parliamentary elections and the Tamil New Year.

The Hindu
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Constitutional reforms: TNA ready to support govt.
by Shamindra Ferdinando

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government is likely to receive the support of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to introduce constitutional amendments aimed at devolving powers to the regions.

A consensus between the government and the TNA, which campaigned, at the April 8 general election, for protecting rights of the Tamil speaking people, is expected in the near future.

Well-informed sources told The Island that India would pressure the TNA to align with the Rajapaksa administration to pave the way for required constitutional changes.

Although a re-merger of the Eastern Province with the North or police powers to regions would not be negotiable, the government was expected to go for maximum possible devolution.

Sources said that now that President Rajapaksa had received an overwhelming mandate at the January 26 and April 8 presidential and general elections, he could go ahead with the much-delayed devolution process.

Responding to a query by The Island, sources said a delay on the part of the Sri Lankan government would only upset India and strengthen the Tamil Diaspora bent on reviving separatist sentiments, though the LTTE no longer posed a conventional military threat.

They said the Tamil Diaspora was seeking international support to justify its cause on the basis of "Sri Lanka’s failure to resolve the issue".

Sources expressed confidence that the 14-member TNA parliamentary group led by veteran MP R. Sampanthan would throw its weight behind the government to introduce far-reaching constitutional amendments.

Sampanthan said that they could certainly work with the government to make progress in areas which would benefit the Tamil speaking people and the country as a whole.

"We are quite willing to work with the government," he told The Island yesterday.

The Trincomalee District MP emphasised that they would adopt what he called a very positive and constructive attitude towards this.

Asked whether the TNA had been in touch with India regarding the latest initiative, MP Sampanthan said that he was in contact with many countries and many people.

He said that India was keen to resolve the long-standing problem. The international community expected Sri Lanka to tackle the issue.

Responding to another query, he said he would certainly impress on the UNP the need for a consensus regarding the devolution proposals. Sri Lanka should not miss this opportunity to resolve the issue, now that government had the wherewithal to finalise a political deal acceptable to all. Everything would depend on the government’s readiness to set up proposals acceptable to the Tamil speaking people, the TNA leader said.

Government sources said President Rajapaksa was confident that none of the UPFA’s constituent partners, particularly the JHU and the National Freedom Front (NFF), would cause trouble, though they had resented moves aimed at striking a deal with the TNA sometime back. Two parties with just six seats among them were no longer in a position to dictate terms to the dominant partner (SLFP). The sources revealed that even the JVP-led Democratic National Alliance (DNA) was likely to take a positive approach given its links with a section of the international community supportive of devolution of powers to the regions.

MP Sampanthan said that their support to Opposition candidate, General Sarath Fonseka, at the presidential election should not be an impediment to an alliance between the government and the TNA.


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