Colombo: The government on Wednesday proposed the
setting up of a multi-party parliamentary panel to recommend
constitutional changes for ethnic reconciliation in Sri Lanka
following the end of the three decades civil war in 2009.
Nimal Siripala de Silva, the senior minister and leader
of the House, moved the motion to set up the panel to consist
of 31 members in the 225-member parliament, parliamentary
officials said.
"Parliament resolves that a select committee of
parliament shall be appointed to recommend to this House
within six months appropriate political and constitutional
measures......," the tabled motion said.
The panel would ensure that all people will preserve and
promote respective identities, enhance the unity of people,
empower people to promote socio, economic and cultural
development.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa proposed the setting up of
the parliamentary panel in parallel to his direct talks with
the main Tamil party TNA to fulfill the political aspirations
of the minority community.
Sri Lanka has faced growing international pressure
since the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009 to arrive at a
credible political solution to end the ethnic strife in the
country.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, November 23, 2011, 21:16