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Friday, May 30, 2008 - 05.26 GMT |
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US commends Sri Lanka's commitment to
devolution of power |
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The Deputy Ambassador for US Embassy in
Colombo James Moor said that the US
Government commends the decision of
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the APRC to
pursue the implementation of the 13th
Amendment to the Constitution as a first
phase in the devolution of power in Sri
Lanka.
Addressing a National Conference on
Provincial Councils held at the BMICH on May
28 the Deputy Ambassador said "Sri Lanka's
minorities need to know that they can have a
role in a united Sri Lanka where they can
control many of their own affairs on a
regional basis".
The 13th Amendment to the Constitution had
been on the statute books for over 20 years.
The Government has made a good start by
emphasising the importance of the 13th
Amendment to devolve power to the provincial
councils, particularly to the East.
Deputy Ambassador said that their experience
taught them that only a military solution to
such conflicts would not achieve the
ultimately success. There must be a parallel
political strategy to address the underlying
factors, circumstances and grievances that
have arisen due to the said conflict.
As the President's commitment to devolution
suggests, Sri Lanka's long running conflict
will not be solved on the battlefield alone.
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