India welcomes APRC recommendations in Sri Lanka

New Delhi, Jan 24 (UNI) India today welcomed the interim steps recommended by the All Party Representatives Conference (APRC) in Sri Lanka for implementation of devolution and official language provisions of the Sri Lankan Constitution and reaffirmed support to peaceful settlement of all issues.

An External Affairs Ministry spokesman said here today in response to a question that India had consistently advocated settlement of the ethnic problem in the island nation by the people themselves in a manner acceptable to all communities within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.

The spokesman said the Sri Lankan government had been ''good enough'' to share with India the interim steps recommended by the APRC for implementation of devolution provisions and official language provisions of the Sri Lankan Constitution.

''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,'' the spokesman added.

The APRC, in its interim report submitted to President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday, had given several recommendations for political solution of the problems in the island nation.

These include full and faithful implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, holding of provincial council elections in the east and establishment of an interim provincial council in the north.

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