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APRC parties reach consensus on three vital issues

COLOMBO: All Party Representatives Committee (APRC) Chairman Prof.Tissa Vitharana said the political parties have reached consensus on the three main co-issues of a future power-sharing structure, leaving half of its workload finished.

“We have reached consensus on three of the most controversial co-issues,” Prof.Vitharana said adding that he was hopeful of delivering a final document within a months time. But he declined to spell out the three areas the political parties reached a consensus on.

The Parties which were having a marathon of weekly meetings for the past four weeks, after submitting their individual proposals a month ago, were taking up each co-issue to weigh among themselves and reach common ground.

“We have dealt with the most difficult ones and others will be easy to cope as we move along.”

Vitharana offered 20 main proposals, that could be used as a basis of a future constitution, prepared based on the past discussions of the representatives, on January 8 and subsequently invited the 13 political parties in the APRC to submit amendments.

The proposals in his document outlined the State - as free sovereign and independent, Form of Government, Electoral system, Supremacy of Constitution, Power sharing at the centre/in the provinces, Unit of devolution (9 provinces), Judiciary, Distribution of funds, Defence and national security among other things.

Most of the Tamil parties including TULF Leader V. Anandasangaree, welcomed the Vitharana proposals as a sound basis for future peace talks. But some parties such as the JHU and the JVP opposed, criticising the proposals created the ground for a federal structure.

All 13 parties including the main opposition UNP submitted their inputs and they are now debating these among the representatives. The TNA and the JVP are not involved in the process.

The APRC held its longest meeting on Monday from 2.30pm to 9.30 pm. Asked if the reports that the Tamil and Muslim parties have joined forces within the APRC, were true, he said there were no gang ups and the minorities had opposing views over the issue they put up for discussion on Monday but have expressed consenting ideas on certain others.

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