13A should be discussed with all, not just Tamil MPs - President

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe noted that the need for inclusive discussions on the 13th Constitutional Amendment during the All-Party Conference.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe had emphasized that this matter affects the entire country & should be addressed with the participation of all political parties, not just limited to Tamil Party MPs.

The All-Party Conference got underway at the President's Office in Colombo on Wednesday (26) evening.

The primary aim of the conference is to apprise party leaders representing Parliament about both the National Reconciliation Program & the North & East Development Plan.

The President's Media Division said that the President emphasized the need to address the existing shortcomings if the Provincial Council system is to be sustained in the future .

Sri Lanka's political sphere is once again debating the 13th Constitutional Amendment, while people continue to protest citing various issues that have gone unresolved.

Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Bandula Gunawardena noted that the President had stressed that a decision on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution would be reached only after discussing the matter with the parliament and the party leaders. 

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka was an outcome of the India-Sri Lanka Peace Accord of July 1987, signed by then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and then Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayawardene.

It was an attempt to resolve Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict and led to the creation of Provincial Councils.

It assured a power sharing arrangements, and there continues to be a discord over the non provisions of certain powers to the Provincial Councils. 

None of the provincial councils in Sri Lanka are in operation, and the powers of these Provincial Councils are exercised by the governors appointed by the President. 

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution was a matter discussed during President Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to India last week.

President Wickremesinghe said a decision can be reached on the powers if all parties are in agreement. 

Following his return to Sri Lanka, President Ranil Wickremesighe called for an all party meeting in Colombo to discuss national reconciliation.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said he would attend the meeting on behalf of the people, but would not fall prey to political schemes.

Tamil political parties in Sri Lanka are sharing different views over the all-party conference.

Leader of the Tamil National Alliance R. Sampanthan told News 1st that he would attend the meeting on Wednesday (26), however, leader of the Tamil National People's Front, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam said he would boycott the meeting.

The Jathika Jana Balavegaya decided to boycott the all-party conference, noting that the President has failed to fulfill the promises made so far with regard to the national issue.