India calls for ‘effective devolution’
May 12, 2010 07:24 am
The Indian government has called upon
Addressing an international conference in
She said the 13 amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution was designed to provide considerable devolution of powers to the provinces.
“The amendment is gained broad acceptance and has become the fulcrum around which the provincial administration revolves. There is consequently need to strengthen and empower these provinces further.”
She added: “India’s own experiment with democracy has taught us that effective devolution of powers, equal status before the constitution, equal access to opportunities and addressing of minority concerns ensure that fissiparous forces are contained and differences are addressed in an open and democratic fashion.”
Responding, the Sri Lankan government says that the country had to wait until the end of the conflict as there was no “responsible leadership” in the north and the east during the war.
“Most of the provisions of the 13 amendment are already
implemented,” Sri Lankan Ambassador to
“There are some issues. So that has to be some issues like the police powers, how to implement that, land powers, how to implement that still we are working through that. And you need to have a responsible leadership in the provinces to absorb powers,” he said.
Ms. Rao also stressed the importance of returning the internally displaced people (IDPs) “in an atmosphere of safety and security.”
“Today I believe the focus is shifted from the immediate to the medium term including restoration of livelihoods, building capacity, reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure specially in the northern part of the country.”
However, the reconciliation is a process that should be
decided by the people of
“
BBC
