Peace package by April - radio

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 January 2000, 13:09 GMT]
Sri Lanka's state radio said Thursday that the government has announced a program to find a political solution to the island's ethnic problem. According to the radio the government is planning to table a new draft constitution in the parliament before April this year.

In the first stage, the government would brief the political parties in the ruling People's Alliance and in the second stage talk to the political parties representing minorities in Sri Lanka, the radio said.

In the third stage, the government would talk to the main opposition party, the United National Party with a view to reach a consensus on the proposed political peace package.

Thereafter the government would invite the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for peace talks, the radio said.

In the fifth stage a new draft constitution would be tabled in Parliament during the month of April, the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation reported.