President the first to propose far reaching devolution - GL

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

The UNP yesterday stressed that it is the extremists who are against any moderate solution that will cause the division of the country and not the UNP which will follow similar power devolution proposals presented by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

The substantive consensus of attitudes between the UNP and SLFP to resolve the ethnic problem augurs well for the future of the country, UNP MP and former Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris told a media briefing at the Opposition Leader's office yesterday

"Both President Kumaratunga and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe see a federal solution as an instrument for holding the country together. Owing to this consensus, today there is a hope for the future." Prof. Peiris noted adding that the major impediment to solving the nation question was the lack of agreement between two main parties.

He noted that President Kumaratunga made efforts to re-unify the country through devolution of power within a single country."The UNP leader is also committed to the same policy with regard to the resolution of the ethnic issue."

He explained that people who would divide this country were extremists who are against any moderate solution. "They will create an environment that would witness a break up of this country," Prof. Peiris said.

He said in order to solve the prolonged problem, both President Kumaratunga and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had set out their policies which is internal power sharing through a federal structure within one country, which respects the rights of all communities.

He said it was President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga who first proposed far reaching devolution of power to solve the country's ethnic issue. "In 1997, her Government presented proposals for constitutional reforms of which the centre piece was a federal structure and this was later incorporated into the 2001 draft Constitution presented to Parliament by President Kumaratunga herself."

He questioned as to why Premier Mahinda Rajapakse did not dissent when these proposals and draft Constitution was presented to Parliament. "At the time, he saw this as useful. Has he changed his mind now ?

He explained that at the time Sri Lanka gained independence, the country was regarded as the Switzerland in Asia and was held up as a model for development while its per capital income was also far ahead compared to other Asian countries except Japan.

He stressed that this situation deteriorated due to the inability of successive Governments to deal with the ethnic conflict. Prof. Peiris explained that only through power sharing that the country could be united.

"If not for power sharing, countries like Canada and India would not have remained as one country."

He recalled how the JVP opposed the 13th amendment when it was introduced to establish the provincial council system to devolve power.

"The JVP opposed this and even resorted to violence.Now they participate at these councils. There is a change of heart for which there is no rational explanation."

Referring to a statement by President Kumaratunga at a meeting in Bibile, Prof. Peiris said she has commended The Cease-fire Agreement (CFA) for saving lives and ushering in economic prosperity and investments." Premier Rajapakse was party to all these agreement. Why is he taking a different stance now?