PSC proposal before House soon

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The proposal of appointing a Parliament Select Committee (PSC) to find a solution to minority grievances will be brought to Parliament shortly.

The Order Paper is ready and dates have been fixed, Cabinet spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Addressing the weekly cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department auditorium yesterday Minister Rambukwella said President Mahinda Rajapaksa proposed this in order to cut down on time wasted in finding a solution and bestow power on the Parliament Select Committee which is the most democratic instrument within the Parliament system.

He wanted to act democratically and not to make this national decision himself. Even if the President starts the process, first it goes to the Attorney General’s Department and then it goes to the Supreme Court. Only after that it reach the Parliament as the last step in the process. But now it starts from the Parliament saving a lot of time.

According to Minister Rambukwella, as the executive President, President Mahinda Rajapaksa wished to bestow the power in the legislature to find a solution to this important national issue. The Parliament consists of representatives from all political parties. Some walked out of the APRC.

The UNP refrained from taking part in it and the TNA left after the initial stages. It became futile because of non participation of representatives. But the Parliament Select Committee has more depth, more arms and teeth. It becomes the responsibility of all 225 MPs no matter which political party they belong to.

Minister Rambukwella pointed out that the JVP rejected the proposal of appointing a Parliament Select Committee but the UNP has not yet decided whether to take part in it or not. It takes time to observe new developments and make moves. President Rajapaksa’s stand is very clear. He is acting democratically with a view to finding a solution with the agreement of all in a short time. This is why he started from the last step, the Minister added.