Rajapakse seeks 'home grown' solution to end ethnic crisis

Colombo, Jul 11 (UNI) Vowing to take all possible steps to bring peace with justice, Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse today stressed for a ''home grown'' constitutional process as a solution to the prolonged ethnic crisis in the country.

Mr Rajapakse made these remarks while addressing the inaugural meeting of the all-party Representative Committee on Constitutional Reforms and the panel of constitutional experts at the Presidential Secretariat here.

''Finding a political and constitutional solution to the 'national question' requires a multi-party effort and an inclusive approach. We need to devise a 'home grown' solution with the support of our people. I think that any solution must be underpinned by our great traditional values and heritage,'' he said.

The President said ''any solution needs to, as a matter of urgency, devolve power for people to take charge of their own destiny'' as it had been tried successfully in many parts of the world.

''There are many examples from around the world that we may study as we evolve a truly Sri Lankan constitutional framework including our immediate neighbour, India,'' President Rajapakse said.

Representatives of 13 political parties, other than the main Opposition United National Party (UNP) and Colombo-based heads of diplomatic missions attended the meeting amid tight security.

The four-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was not invited to this meeting.

Mr Rajapakse said his attempts at bringing the LTTE to the negotiating table had failed so far.

''While, our attempts at bringing the LTTE to the negotiating table continues, we have a responsibility to address the national question. The issue we are dealing with is of the gravest importance,'' he added.

The Lankan President said improving the lives of the impoverished in the Northern and Eastern parts of the country ''is a priority'' and added his government has allocated US 1.25 billion dollars for this purpose.

Encouraging active private sector and international agency involvement in the development of the North-East, he said the government remains committed to providing investment funds to restive war-hit regions.

UNI XC PA HT1612