Dates for parliamentary debate on ISGA to be decided Monday

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 July 2004, 11:32 GMT]
The dates for the three-day debate on the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposal submitted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) last year, will be decided at the Monay meeting of the leaders of political parties represented in the current Sri Lanka parliament, parliamentary sources said.

At the last party leaders' meeting held on July 5, Leader of the House and Minister Mr.Jayaraj Fernandopulle moved that three-day debate should be held on the LTTE's ISGA proposals from July 20- 23.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) representatives told the Speaker Mr.W.J.M.Lokkubandara who presided over the last party leaders' meeting that the debate should be postponed to September as most of the TNA parliamentarians would return by the end of August from their foreign visits, sources said.

The fourth session of the parliament is scheduled to meet on Tuesday. The Speaker has summoned party leaders' meeting Monday to decide the business of the House. Parliamentary sources said at this meeting the dates for the debate on the ISGA would be decided taking into consideration the request of the TNA.

The minority United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government has so far not tabled draft bills for debate in the fourth session of the parliament as it has failed to secure a majority in the parliament, sources said.