Sri Lanka President says ready to share power with Tamils

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa says with regard to a political solution to the ethnic problem, he is ready to devolve powers and a solution will be reached in consensus with all political parties based on their proposals.


Addressing a meeting with foreign correspondents today at the Temple Trees, the President stressed that power sharing with the Centre is very much on the table but added that there is no room to devolve police powers.


He said he has had discussions with the main Tamil party and he has asked them to form a unity and come up with a political solution for negotiations.
Responding to the questions on the alleged killing of an Indian fisherman by the Sri Lankan Navy the President said that reports from the Navy showed there was no such attack but the discussions are ongoing to prevent any such incidents in the future.
"We have had arrangements earlier but these will have to be revised given the new peaceful situation in Sri Lanka," he said.
Regarding Sri Lanka's relationship with the West, President Rajapaksa said that it remains strong and positive attitudes in some countries towards Sri Lanka have improved. He cited Canada's revised immigration policies and LTTE arrests in countries such as Switzerland and Germany as examples of cooperative relations.
Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Mahinda Samarasinghe, and Prof. G.L. Peiris, and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga were also present at the meeting.
(Photos by Sudath Silva)