The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) unveils its power sharing proposals after 63 sessions carried out over 18 months. The basis for the power-sharing proposals would be 1987 constitutional amendment – the 13th Amendment – on creating a system of provincial councils. The APRC was established by President Rajapaksa in 2006 to forge a consensus among all parties on a political solution to the ethnic conflict. However, the opposition parties, the United National Party (UNP) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) withdrew from the Commitee, whereas the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was never invited to participate.

As regards the Provincial Council elections, the APRC report noted:

“The APRC is of the view that conditions in the Eastern Provinces are conducive for holding elections to the provincial council and that elections should be held immediately. Conditions in the Northern Province are far from being peaceful. A free and fair election in the North will not be possible in the near future. Hence an alternative arrangement is required in the Northern Province to enable the people of that Province to enjoy the fruits of devolution… As it is not possible to hold elections in the North, the President could make appropriate order to establish an Interim Council for the Northern Province in terms of the Constitution.”

Sources
Full implementation of the 13th Amendment recommended, The Hindu, 24 January 2008; APRC ‘approves’ 13th amendment, BBC Sinhala, 21 January 2008
Quotations

“This certainly would not be the final proposal and will not be a universal panacea for all ills in the country. It will however be a firm and reliable foundation to build and develop a new Constitution for the Nation. It is a long-term process, requiring a step-by-step approach. We will strive to implement to the optimum, what we could, under the existing Constitution and mechanism, amending it where necessary”. Chairman of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC)

“The Government of Sri Lanka has been good enough to share with us the interim steps recommended by the All Party Representatives Conference in Sri Lanka for implementation of devolution provisions and official language provisions of the Sri Lankan Constitution. It has consistently been our view that a settlement of the issues in Sri Lanka is to be done by the Sri Lankan people themselves in a manner acceptable to all communities within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. The Government of India will continue to work with Sri Lanka and its people to bring about such a settlement of the issues in Sri Lanka. To the extent that the APRC proposals contribute to such a settlement, they are a welcome first step”. Official Spokeperson, High Commission of India, Press Release, 25 January 2008

“The 13th amendment of 1987 was a treatment for ulcer. But 20 years down the line, the ulcer has become cancer. We now need a medicine for cancer, not ulcer.” V. Anandasangaree, President Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF)

“We consider the APRC as an anachronism, not representative of the free will of the Sri Lankan people. We reject any recommendations made by such a body. [The 13th Amendment to the Constitution was thrust upon the then Government] by the Indians with their gunboats outside the Colombo Harbour”. Somawansa Amarasinghe, Leader of the JVP.

Related events

Related links
Rohan Edrisinha on the APRC Proposals and the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, groundviews, 30 January 2008