President Ranil Wickremesinghe will present the Government proposals related to the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to Parliament next week, it was reported.

The President will do so while making a Special Statement where he will explain in detail, the proposals to Parliament except seperate police powers.

An All-Party Conference was held under the patronage of the President on July 26 to inform the party leaders representing Parliament about the programme of the Government in relation to national reconciliation.

It was said that President Wickremesinghe would also explain about introducing laws and regulations to strengthen the 13th Amendment.

The Party leaders during the discussion presented their views and suggestions. After the completion of the preliminary work on the devolution of powers, Bills are to be submitted to the Parliament regarding the conduct of affairs at the Provincial Councils.

Under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, when transferring powers to the Provincial Councils, the power to make decisions regarding certain subjects is vested with the Central Government and these subjects must be legally announced.

Earlier, the President said that he will present the best proposals related to solving the problems of the people of the North and East and added that the leaders of the Tamil parties should decide whether to take them forward or not.

The President stressed that there were no plans to merge the Northern and Eastern Provinces and that the aim of this programme is not to seek political mileage but to solve the problems of the Tamil people in the North and East.

The President has decided to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution only if all the party leaders representing Parliament agree to a full devolution of powers, the Daily News reported.

The President is of the opinion that the consent of all the party leaders representing Parliament is necessary for granting the Police Powers mentioned in the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and for that a two third majority in the Parliament is required.

The President during a recent discussion held with the members of Parliament representing North and East on July 18 said the draft of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) has been referred to the Attorney General to determine whether it is compatible with the Constitution and will soon be presented to Parliament and the National Action Plan on Reconciliation drafted by the ONUR will also be presented to the Cabinet soon.

Source – Daily News