Lanka Opposition agrees to devolution package

Sri Lankan government's efforts to implement the devolution package for the embattled east and northern regions received a major boost with the main opposition party of the country agreeing to support the plan.

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party last night expressed its fullest support for the implementation of the 13th Amendment (for devolution) to the Constitution, after a crucial meeting between President Mahinda Rajapakse and Opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe on Tuesday, officials said.

Wickremasinghe said that since the interim proposals presented by the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) had included the implementation of the 13th Amendment, and since it was the law of the land, his party would not oppose as it has no objection to the implementation of existing laws.

According to an official statement issued by the government last night, the two leaders also discussed the 17th Amendment providing for Constitutional council to ensure good governance in the country.

The Opposition leader had reportedly requested the APRC to submit a report on the progress of its deliberations to date.

Source: dnaindia.com