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PSC after 2012 Budget

12 Oct 2011 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) with new terms of reference to make recommendations for the resolution of the North-East question will be appointed after the 2012 Budget, the Daily Mirror reliably understands.

This comes in the wake of 14 parliamentarians giving notice of a motion to review the terms of reference of the proposed PSC to recommend and report on political and constitutional measures.

The most important section of the motion which will be included in the Order Book for next week’s parliamentary sessions is the notice to device a Constitutional Framework in a manner to ensure that all people will preserve and promote their respective identities and live with dignity and security as one nation.

The notice further states that such unity would promote socio-economic, political and cultural development of all people and the country. The PSC is best equipped to determine the nature and scope of steps to be taken to enable the aforesaid.

“The parliament resolves that a PSC shall be appointed to recommend appropriate political and constitutional measures within six months to ensure that all people will preserve and promote their respective identities and live with dignity and security as one nation, enhance unity of peoples of Sri Lanka and empower the people and country to promote socio-economic, political and cultural development,” the motion says.

The PSC and its chairman shall be nominated by the Speaker and notwithstanding the provisions of standing order 95, the PSC shall consists of 31 members.

Minister and House leader Nimal Siripala De Silva confirmed to the Daily Mirror that such a motion had been handed over to the Speaker and would be included in the next order book.

The signatories are Ministers Maithripala Sirisena, Vsudeva Nanyakkara, D.E.W. Gunasekara, Tissa Attanayaka, Basil Rajapaksa, Arumugam Thondaman, Patali Champika Ranawaka, P. Piyasena, Douglas Devananda, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Rauf Hakeem, T.B. Ekanayaka and Parliamentarian and MP Rajiva Wijesinghe.

Minister De Silva said the PSC would most probably be activated in the next parliament.

The party leaders will decide on the date which the motion is to be included in the order paper and if necessary a date to debate it.

TNA spokesman and Jaffna District MP Suresh Premachandra said this was a step forward on the part of the government as there was no mention of a ‘Constitutional Framework’ in the original terms of reference presented in July.

“We opposed the terms of reference in its original form and presented our own suggestions during the discussions we had with the government. We are glad to understand that the government has taken note of our concerns and become cooperative,” Mr. Premachandra stressed.

He said the TNA would come up with a report based on the talks it had with the government so far and minimum workable demands.

He lamented that the scheduled October 3 round of talks was postponed due to the LG polls and there was no positive response from the government to resume talks up to last afternoon. Mr. Premachandra said the TNA expected to submit proposals which were agreed upon by the government and the TNA at the talks. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)

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