P-TOMS to be debated in SL parliament

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 July 2005, 16:58 GMT]
A debate on P-TOMS signed by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is scheduled for August 11 and 12 in Sri Lanka Parliament, political sources said. The decision was taken at the party leaders meeting held Tuesday evening with the Speaker Mr.W.M.J.Lokkubandara in the chair.

The debate is to be held following the Supreme Court stay order on four key provisions of P-TOMS, sources said.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), one time close ally of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and later withdrew its support in protest to P-TOMS, requested the Speaker to fix dates for a parliamentary debate on the P-TOMS. This request was made in parliament when the government first time tabled the P-TOMS agreement, sources said.

Meanwhile, the JVP is to hold protest meetings island wide against the P-TOMS on July 25 to mark the completion of the first month of signing the agreement, sources said.