APRC to resume deliberations next week

Manjula Fernando

COLOMBO: The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) will resume their deliberations next week to reach a consensus among the 13 political parties over a 'power sharing' package that can be used as a basis for future talks.

APRC Chairman Prof. Tissa Vitharana took the decision to resume deliberations after receiving the much awaited SLFP proposals on Thursday.

Prof. Vitharana said copies of the SLFP document was circulated among the 13 political parties represented in the APRC on Thursday and he was certain the proposals would have reached them by yesterday.

The remaining two parties, the JHU and the CWC, which withheld their documents until the SLFP tendered its devolution package, are expected to submit their suggestions shortly, Prof. Vitharana said.

Altogether 11 parties including the SLFP and the UNP have submitted their proposals against the Tissa Vitharana proposals which outlined a comprehensive power sharing framework that can be used as a basis for a political solution to the North and East issue.

The parties will strive to find common ground within the APRC and agree on a devolution framework that will serve as a basis for future talks.

According to the original agenda, the deliberations on the amendments, which starts next week, is to be limited to two months.