T V Sriram
Colombo, Dec 30 (PTI) Sri Lanka plans to hold elections in the war-ravaged Tamil dominated north in 2009 after flushing out the LTTE from their strongholds and rehabilitating the displaced people, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said.
"We want to hold elections in northern Sri Lanka (Wanni) during 2009 after settling the displaced people," Rajapaksa said while talking to a group of Indian journalists here last night.
He said that his government is hopeful the LTTE terrorism will be brought under control next year (2009).
On the losses suffered by the troops, Rajapaksa said: "you know when there is a war any such thing can happen".
Meanwhile, the committee working out devolution of powers for Northern Sri Lanka has intensified its works for submitting the final report.
The interim recommendations were submitted to the Sri Lankan President in January this year (2008).
"To the extent that the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) proposals contribute to such a settlement, they are a welcome first step," the Indian Ministry of External Affairs had said after the interim report was presented.
India had said that a settlement of the issues in Sri Lanka was to be done by the Sri Lankan people themselves in a manner acceptable to all communities within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. PTI
Courtesy: PTI