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Devolution along with constitutional reforms - SLMC
By Frances Bulathsinghala
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) is to prod the government, along with the support of other minority parties, especially the TNA, into undertaking a 'complete overhaul' of the Constitution which would involve electoral reforms, facilitating the devolution of power and abolishing the Executive Presidency.

SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem said that keeping these aspects in mind, his party would continue its ongoing dialogue with the UPFA, especially with regard to its aim of amending the Constitution.

Mr. Hakeem who has commenced a dialogue with Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, the Constitutional Adviser of the UPFA, on the subject of constitutional reforms, states that he has informed Dr. Wickremaratne that he has 'serious reservations' about the proposed constitutional changes, but that the SLMC would play 'very responsible opposition politics'.

The change of heart of the SLMC comes in the wake of President Kumaratunga giving a jump start to the stalled peace process by re-inviting Norway, but Mr. Hakeem said the SLMC would not support the Government in tackling the issue of devolution of power, later, after talks progress with the LTTE.

"We do not want to have constitutional changes every year, just as we are getting used to having regular elections. We will lend our conditional support to the Government provided that the minority parties are involved at the outset. We want the issue of devolution and power sharing included in the proposed amendments", Mr. Hakeem said.

Mr. Hakeem who dismissed notions of the SLMC joining the government said however that 'the going was not going to be as tough for the UPFA as in the contest of electing the Speaker'.

The SLMC leader who is on record earlier as saying that the UPFA Government was a 'fraud', in a changed stance, told The Sunday Times last week that it would 'certainly not' oppose the Government on any issue connected with the peace process.

"The Opposition does not have to be hostile all the time. We are prepared to lend our support to the government with regard to the peace process", he said adding that the SLMC would be presenting its proposals on the North-East administration aspect, to the visiting Norwegian delegation.

Asked what demands had been made by the SLMC from the Government, Mr. Hakeem said that no political demands have been made yet.

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