SL parliament to debate UK moves on ethnic conflict

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 May 2007, 10:58 GMT]
The Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is to move for a special debate in Sri Lanka's parliament on the appointment of an all-party committee by the House of Commons in United Kingdom to assist in finding a political solution to the island ethnic conflict, parliamentary sources in Colombo said. Earlier the JVP politburo issued a statement condemning the United Kingdom for interfering in Sri Lanka's internal affairs and undermining the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.

During the party leaders' meeting held Monday under the chairmanship of Mr.W.J.M.Lokkubandara, Speaker, the members agreed to allow the JVP to move for a special debate on this issue when the parliament resumes its sitting Tuesday morning, sources said.

Meanwhile, the government parliament group met Monday evening at Temple Trees with Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse in the chair. The parliamentary group of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) also met Monday in the parliamentary complex. Both groups discussed the current political and war situation in Sri Lanka, sources said.