Sri Lanka parliament to hold debate on P-TOMS

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 July 2005, 07:02 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament is to hold two-day debate on the P-TOMS signed by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The dates for the debate will be fixed at the party leaders' meeting to be held later, Speaker Mr. W.M.J.Lokkubandara announced Tuesday in parliament.

P-TOMS has been signed by the parties concerned with Norwegian facilitation to rehabilitate and reconstruct the tsunami destroyed coastal areas in the northeast province

The adjourned parliamentary sittings last month on the day when the Leader of the House and Minister Mr.Maithiripala Sirisena tabled the P-TOMS document amid pandemonium in the house were reconvened Tuesday.

Mr.Wimal Weerawnase, parliamentary group leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) requested the Prime Minister to hand over a copy of the signed P-TOMS document and wanted a two-day debate on the P-TOMS, parliamentary sources said.

JVP was a constituent of the UPFA government and later withdrew its support on P-TOMS issue, sources said.

The Prime Minister Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse replied that he has handed over the signed P-TOMS document to the Speaker. The Speaker also endorsed it.

The Prime Minister agreed for a debate on the P-TOMS.

At this stage the Speaker said the dates for the two day debate on P-TOMS could be fixed at the party leaders' meeting to be held later, sources said.