“We can’t decide for you”: Khurshid

Tuesday, 8 October 2013 00:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Indian External Affairs Minister reiterates call for meaningful devolution through local dialogue
Reiterates Lanka’s commitment to India and the world about 13A and beyond
No deadlines from New Delhi on devolution
Decision on Indian PM’s participation in CHOGM to come from Singh’s office
Key agreements on Sampur Power Project and trilingual policy assistance inked
Basil, Sampanthan meetings last evening
Khurshid to meet President, Northern Governor, new Northern CM today

By Dharisha Bastians Striking a supremely diplomatic chord, visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid reminded Sri Lanka of its promises to New Delhi on the full implementation of the 13th Amendment but emphasised that it was Colombo that must decide what will constitute meaningful devolution of power to the provinces. “We cannot decide for you, but India is ready to offer any assistance to achieve a political solution,” Minister Khurshid said, addressing a joint media conference with his local counterpart Minister G.L. Peiris at the External Affairs Ministry in Colombo. “We remain in constant consultations with the Sri Lankan Government,” Khurshid said. He said the northern election was an important step towards political settlement of the Sri Lankan national question. “We hope that successful culmination of elections to the Northern Province will usher a new beginning towards a better future for the people in the north,” Minister Khurshid added. Calling for consensus through dialogue, Khurshid said that following the successful conduct of the elections in the North, there was an elected representative government in the Northern Province. “Together with the Government I hope they will arrive at a solution within the country’s constitutional framework,” the Indian Minister told reporters. He said India defined ‘meaningful devolution’ as a solution that would satisfy and ensure the participation of all stakeholders in the political process.

Intervening, Minister Peiris said the only way to arrive at consensus on the political settlement was through the recently formed Parliamentary Select Committee. “That Select Committee is doing its work,” the Minister said. The Government’s PSC currently consists only of ruling party members with the UNP and the Tamil National Alliance deciding to boycott the process. Minister Peiris said the Northern Chief Minister taking oaths before the President yesterday signified the spirit of cooperation between the Government and the recently elected Northern Council. Commenting on the Indian Prime Minister’s attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo next month, Khurshid said when the decision is made it will be Manmohan Singh’s office that will make the announcement. “At this stage considering the prevailing conditions, the importance of our relationship, a decision will be made,” the Indian Minister said. Following the joint press briefing Ministers Khurshid and Peiris witnessed the signing of eight agreements including the Sampur Thermal Power Project and an MoU for Technical Assistance in support of the 10-year National Plan for a Trilingual Sri Lanka at the Presidential Secretariat. Minister Khurshid, who held meetings with Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Tamil National Alliance Leader R. Sampanthan last evening, will meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa over breakfast today. The Indian Minister will then fly to Jaffna for meetings with Northern Governor G.A. Chandrasiri and Northern Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran before leaving for New Delhi later today.