SLFP invites all parties to attend PSC

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) invited all political parties to forward their suggestions to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on the 13th Amendment, and to be parties to the forthcoming Northern Provincial Council election.

Addressing the media at the Party Headquarters in Colombo yesterday, SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena said the government is committed to conduct a transparent, free and fair election in the three Provinces including the North.

The minister said elections to the Northern Provincial Council will be held on schedule.

“The election is slated for mid-September but the election date is decided by the Elections Commissioner. New politicians and voters suppressed for over 30 years by the LTTE gun culture, will come out with this election. Those who supported and rallied round the LTTE are today clamouring for the 13th Amendment and for an election in the North putting forward various baseless allegations,” he said.

The Northern Provincial Council election is more significant since the North was badly affected by LTTE terrorism for over 30 years. Holding elections is also a great achievement of the country since the election is an outcome of the humanitarian mission, which brought permanent peace to the country, he said.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said all political parties should forward their suggestions to the PSC where the suggestions will be considered.

Holding the Northern poll is a historic occasion where the government will offer political rights to the people of the North suppressed by the LTTE all these years. President Rajapaksa is offering political rights to the Northerners whose rights were snatched by Prabhakaran, Minister de Silva said.

Minister Dullas Allahapperuma said all political parties including the TNA should participate in the PSC proceedings.