An all-party peace panel in Sri Lanka has recommended maximum devolution of powers to Tamils in northern and eastern provinces while addressing the problems of Sinhala minorities in these areas.
The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) headed by Tissa Vitharna submitted its much-awaited report to President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday.
It recommended that special arrangements are necessary to permit maximum devolution of powers to the Northern and Eastern provinces under the 13th amendments that calls for setting up of autonomous provincial councils.
Giving details of the report, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told reporters today the government would not hesitate to undertake any kind of expenditure to implement the proposals that would initially come in the form of an Interim Advisory Provincial Council for the North and Eastern Part of Sri Lanka.
"We (Sri Lanka) are more than 20 billion rupee economy. Funds will never be a problem for implementing the proposals," he said in reply to a question.
"The APRC recommendations also seek to overcome existing shortcomings, especially through adequate funding of the Provincial Councils by the government," he told a crowded press conference here.
Taking into consideration the existing conditions in the Northern Province, an alternative arrangement there is to be made to enable people to enjoy the fruits of devolution, he said.
The committee recommended establishment of an Interim Council as a temporary measure for the Northern Province, reflecting the ethnic character of the province to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his executive powers until the elections are held.
The APRC recommendations included recruitment of Tamil speaking police officers and taking steps to recruit interpreters and translators for facilitating other relevant facilities in the courts of law in sufficient numbers.
They also included recruitment of staff and procurement of equipment to enable Tamil speaking people to transact business in public bodies in their own language.
According to the APRC report, similar steps are to be taken to address the problems of the Sinhala minorities in the North and the East of Sri Lanka.
The committee said it is of the view that conditions in the eastern Province are conducive to holding elections to the Provincial Council and that the polls should be held immediately.
On elections in the LTTE-dominated north, the report said conditions there are far from being peaceful.
"A free and fair elections in the North will not be possible in the near future. Hence an alternative arrangement is required in the Northern Province to enable the people there to enjoy the fruits of devolution.
"As it is not possible to hold elections in the North, the President could make appropriate order to establish an Interim Council for the Northern Province in terms of the Constitution," it said.
The APRC report said the proposed Interim Council for a Province should consist of individuals who have political experience and an abiding interest in the development of the province and in its people and be acceptable to the people of the province.
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