“Give me some package,” President tells APRC

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has told the All-Party Representative Committee (APRC) that he needs “something” from its report to be handed over to him on Wednesday as “everybody expects us to put a political package on the table.” The President made this comment during a luncheon he hosted at Temple Trees in view of Thai Pongal with Minister Douglas Devananda and Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad among the invitees.

The President said he would study the Report first and then put it to Cabinet before a final decision was made on whether to make public its contents or not. The APRC is to hand over its report to the President on Wednesday and resume sittings once again to implement selected themes under the present Constitution.

APRC Chairman and Minister Tissa Vitharana told The Sunday Times the committee was meeting on a daily basis to finalise the report by Wednesday. “Once the final document is handed over to the President, we will select certain areas to implement it under the present Constitution. It will be discussed with the same parties. The doors are open for the JVP and the UNP. It is up to them to be a part of the discussions, but we will go ahead with the final document.

“So far the JVP has not shown any interest, while the UNP maintains its initial stand that the constituent parties of the Government should first reach a consensus,” Minister Vitharana said. Although no time period was given on completing the second report Minister Vitharana said that the parties were keen to see that a final outcome be reached soon.