APRC Experts’ Panel proposals to be presented shortly
Devolution beyond CBK package
A set of proposals envisaging internal self determination, widespread devolution of power and electoral reforms which would be a basis for the government’s final solution to the North-East conflict will be finalised by a group of experts within the next few weeks, Government sources said.
These proposals put forward by the Experts’ Panel of the All Party Conference (APC) will be handed over to the Representative Committee of the APC shortly. It is learnt that these proposals would be taken as a basis for the final solution that the government intends to put before the country and the LTTE.
The proposals of the Expert Panel would not mention the word federalism but would devolve power beyond the year 2000 draft constitution, sources said. It would also propose electoral reforms on the German model with half from the first past- the- post system and the other half from the existing proportional representation system. While also drawing from the Indian Model they had not recommended adoption of the Indian model in full.
The experts’ panel has ruled out the LTTE proposal for an Interim Self Governing Authority. Special attention will also be paid to the Muslim areas in the North and East. A second Chamber to the Parliament has been proposed while the Executive Presidency is retained with a clipping of certain powers. A proposal to reduce the number of seats in parliament is also on the cards.
Once handed over by the Experts Panel these proposals will be further fine tuned by the Representative Committee of the APC. Afterwards the proposals will be discussed with all political parties and particularly with the UNP before finalizing the solution to be put before the LTTE.
The Experts’ Panel comprises: President’s Counsel H.L. De Silva, senior lawyer Gomin Dayasiri, (both attended Geneva talks), Former Secretary to President Ranasinghe Premadasa, K.H.J. Wijedasa, Manohara De Silva, Dharmasekera Peiris, Asoka Gunawardena, Director Legal, Foreign Ministry Dr. Rohan Perera, P.C. and wife Legal Draftsman Therese Perera, P.C., Former Secretary to the North East Provincial Council, Dr. K. Wigneswaran, Former Head of the Law Faculty, Nirmala Chandrahassan, Dean of Law and Human Rights Commissioner, Selvakumaran, a Constitutional expert on federalism, Shivaji Felix, Former Legal Advisor to President Chandrika Kumaratunga, R.K.W. Gunasekera, Legal advisor to the SLMC, Faiz Musthapha, P.C., Dr. Jayampathy Wickremeratne (who contributed immensely towards the year 2000 Draft Constitution) and Ms. Malkanthi Wickremanayake.
TN, 20.11.2006