(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe will present the Government proposals related to the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the constitution to Parliament next week.
The President will present these proposals while making a special statement in the Parliament, where he will present facts regarding the sharing of powers other than police powers. President Wickramasinghe in detail will explain the introduction of legislation to strengthen the 13th Amendment.
An All-Party Conference was held under the patronage of the President on July 26 to inform the Party leaders representing Parliament about the program of the Government in relation to national reconciliation.
An all-party conference was held under the patronage of the President on July 26 to inform the party leaders representing the Parliament regarding the program implemented and expected to be implemented by the government regarding national reconciliation. The Party leaders during the discussion presented their views and suggestions.
After the completion of the preliminary work on the devolution of powers, Bills are to be submitted to the Parliament regarding the conduct of affairs at the Provincial Councils.
Under the 13th Amendment of the Constitution, the power to make decisions regarding certain subjects is transferred to the Central Government, and those subjects must be legally announced.
President Wickramasinghe previously emphasized that he will present the best proposals for solving the problems of the people of the North and East and the Tamil Party leaders should decide whether to take it forward or not.
The President emphasized that the government has not in any way made any plans to merge Northern and Eastern Provinces or any discussion about it and the aim of this program is not to get political benefits but to solve the problems of the Tamil people in the North East.
The President has intended to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution only if all the party leaders representing the Parliament agree to a full devolution of powers.
The President is of the opinion that the consent of all the Party leaders representing the Parliament is necessary for granting the Police powers mentioned in the 13th Amendment of the Constitution and for that a two third majority in the Parliament is required.
The President during a recent discussion with the members of Parliament representing North and East said the draft of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) has been referred to the Attorney General to determine whether it is compatible with the constitution and will soon be presented to Parliament and the National Action Plan on Reconciliation drafted by the ONUR will also be presented to the Cabinet soon. Formal machinery is to be started after the relevant laws are enacted.
A senior spokesperson of the President’s Office stated that although the President is trying to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the lack of consensus among the opposition in Parliament and the Tamil parties including the Tamil National Alliance has hindered the President’s work.
