The United National Party position in the Select Committee of Parliament to Recommend and Report on Political and Constitutional Measures to Empower the People of Sri Lanka to Live as One Nation

The Hon. Leader of the Opposition is currently out of the country and a comprehensive statement will be issued by him on the United National Party position regarding the Select Committee of Parliament to Recommend and Report on Political and Constitutional Measures to Empower the People of Sri Lanka to Live as One Nation.



In the meantime I had undertaken to make a brief statement regarding the UNP position at the Party Leaders’ meeting and this statement is pursuant to that undertaking.

Consequent to the UNHRC Resolution on Sri Lanka in May, 2009 and the visit of the UN General Secretary Mr. Ban ki Moon, a Joint Statement was issued by the UN Secretary General and the Government of Sri Lanka, wherein the Secretary General welcomed to bring a lasting peace and development in Sri Lanka, where among other matters:

“The Government expressed its commitment to ensure the economic and political empowerment of the people of the North through its programmes.”

“President Rajapakse and the Secretary-General agreed that addressing the aspirations and grievances of all communities and working towards a lasting political solution was fundamental to ensuring long-germ socio-economic development. The Secretary-General welcomed the assurance of the President of Sri Lanka contained in his stamen in Parliament on 19 May 2009 that a national solution acceptable to all sections of people will be evolved. President Rajapakse expressed his firm resolve to proceed with the implementation of the 13th Amendment, as we all to begin a broader dialogue with all parties, including the Tamil parties in the new circumstances, to further enhance this process and to bring about lasting peace and development in Sri Lanka.”

The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) made several recommendations pertaining to the solution of the ethnic problem and related matters.

In the teeth of this and the undertaking to expand the scope of the 13th Amendment and repeal of the 18th Amendment which did away with the independent Commissions in respect of such vital areas as the Judiciary, Police, Public Service, Elections and so on.

The Government has failed both in respect of recommendations of the LLRC and its undertakings as set out in the Joint Statement with the UN Secretary-General.

Notwithstanding this, the Leader of the Opposition wrote to His Excellency the President on 12 June 2013 seeking an appointment to discuss among other things, the restoration of the 17th Amendment, the implementation of the LLRC Report and the appointing of Commonwealth Observers prior to the Elections.

The President has yet to failed to respond to this letter. I am tabling a copy of the letter.

In the light of this, we in the United National Party fail to see the need to appoint yet another Select Committee all over again to merely go through the same matters.

What we need now is a White Paper setting out detailed proposals regarding the implementation of the recommendations and undertakings already made.