Sri Lanka party leaders asked to appoint members to PSC on solving ethnic problem

Acting Minister of Media and Information Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said at the cabinet press briefing Thursday that Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa has informed the political party leaders to appoint representatives to the parliamentary select committee (PSC) to seek a solution to the ethnic problem.


Meanwhile, political sources say that the talks to seek a solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic problem will resume due to international pressure.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) that withdrew from talks has been asked by India to resume talks with the government. A delegation of the TNA recently visited India and participated in a seminar organized by India's ruling party MP on Sri Lanka's Tamil problem.

Political sources also point out that the recent visit of the US Assistant State Secretary Robert O. Blake also coincided with the attempts to resume talks and hint of US pressure.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa proposed the setting up of a PSC to discuss and bring a political solution to the ethnic issue.

He has said that he will accept any decision of the parliament on the ethnic issue and a solution should not be confined to discussions with one party.