President Ranil Wickremesinghe has emphasised the need for all political parties to unite, in order to address Sri Lanka’s ‘ethnic issue’.
Speaking at the All-Party Conference held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday afternoon (13 Dec), the President emphasized that all political parties should come to a common agreement to provide a solution to the ethnic problem by the upcoming 75th Independence Celebration.
Several Ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs), including Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Rishard Bathiudeen, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) M. A Sumanthiran and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, expressed their views regarding the issue.
“This question can be discussed in two parts. The first is the process of compensation for the missing and investigations. There are many problems that need to be solved regarding the Prevention of Terrorism Act, as well as land. The second is the arrangement required to do legal work related to power devolution”, President Wickremesinghe said.
With regards to the devolution of power, Wickremesinghe assured that a joint programme is being implemented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Justice.
A report focused on the missing persons and political prisoners is also due to be produced, he added.
Members of both, the Government and Opposition, appreciated President Wickremesinghe for calling an All Party Conference on Reconciliation.
Listed below are all the remarks made during the conference pertaining to the matter, in full;