TNA decides to Boycott participating in time delaying tactics of Sinhala lanka...

Sri Lanka parliament on Wednesday passed a motion to set up a parliamentary select committee (PSC) to formulate a political solution to the country's ethnic issue.

The parliament announced that a motion to appoint a Select Committee of Parliament to recommend and report on political and constitutional measures to empower the people of Sri Lanka to live as one nation was passed by the House.

The political parties of the country are requested to name their representatives to the PSC.

The committee is expected to suggest steps to enhance the unity of people in the country and empower them and the country to promote socio-economic, political and cultural development.

Under the motion approved today, the PSC, which will have quasi-judicial powers, is to comprise 19 governing party members and 12 opposition members.

The 16 political parties in the ruling alliance each will have a one representative and the largest constituent, Sri Lanka Freedom Party will have altogether four representatives in the PSC.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which is engaged in a dialogue with the government, has earlier said the party would also participate in the PSC.

However, a TNA legislator Suresh Premachandran has told the AP news service that the Tamil party would not participate in the PSC as it would be another "time-buying tactic" of the government.

The PSC is to recommend constitutional measures that need to address the grievances of the minorities and provide solutions for all people that will "preserve and promote their respective identities and live with dignity and security as one nation,� within six months.

The PSC is expected to work a solution within the time frame with the input from all the political parties while the government continues to hold discussions with the Tamil National Alliance.

The government proposed the formation of the PSC stating that a unique opportunity has arisen for the people to unite and work together as one nation towards the economic, social and political development of the nation and its citizens.

The government says it is possible to find a solution by safeguarding the identities of all ethnic groups and preserving the territorial integrity through the initiatives of a parliamentary select committee.