APRC on despite JVP withdrawal - Media Minister

Nadira Gunatilleke and Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: The Government yesterday said the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) will continue its deliberations to find a political solution to the ethnic problem despite the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna's withdrawal from the forum this week.

Responding to a media query, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said that though it is unfortunate that the JVP chose to quit the APRC, the Committee will continue to pursue its efforts at formulating a constitutional framework for solving the problem.

The JVP on Tuesday pulled out of the APRC citing that the Committee had exceeded its mandate by proposing constitutional reforms.

"The Government has always reiterated the need for all political parties to work together to find a peaceful settlement to the national problem.

We regret that the JVP decided to withdraw from the APRC. We hope they will come back and help us in this endeavour," he said.

Commenting on the controversy that has arisen over reports submitted by some members of the Expert Panel, the Minister said that certain members of the Panel had overstepped their brief by publishing their views before discussing them with the Committee.

"The Expert Panel was established to assist the APRC in the capacity of an advisory body. The members of the Panel could have different views on the issue. The reports that were leaked to the media were merely study papers which have to be discussed with the APRC before a final set of proposals is drafted," he added.

Minister Yapa said that APRC Chairman Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana will conduct discussions with members of the Expert Panel in this regard shortly.

Earlier this week the APRC Chairman appealed to the JVP not to disrupt the continuing efforts to find a political solution to the ethnic conflict and forward their opinions whilst remaining in the body.

Stating that the JVP had pulled out on trivial issues, Prof.Tissa Vitharana said the APRC has made good progress and was contemplating a framework acceptable to the Tamils as well as others.

"The paper in question was a preliminary observation report submitted by the expert committee. This is not a final document. The observations were intended to be discussed within the APRC and was open for inputs from the party representatives," he said.

Emphasising the need to reach a common consensus Minister Vitharana said the LTTE will come to serious talks when the Tamil people are convinced of the solution proposed by the southern parties.

"We need to win over the Tamil people. LTTE cannot survive without the support of the Tamil people."