The UNP announced Thursday that a new constitution would offer greater devolution of power however, would maintain a unitary state and the current executive presidential system, thereby rejecting Tamil demands for a federal structure.
The UNP statement, made at its party headquarters did not however detail which powers would be further devolved.
The statement to maintain a unitary state was endorsed by the SLFP as well.
Sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara was quoted by Ceylonews as saying, “Now we have to discuss with the Tamil leaders how and where to end. They are no longer adhering to the extremist position of solution based on federalism. They are willing to find an amicable solution within the unitary state. As majority Sinhalese, we also have to be repared to find a lasting solution to this conflict.”
The Tamil National Alliance, which was once again elected with a sweeping majority by the Tamil people in 2015, pledged in its election manifesto to campaign for the devolution of powers under a federal structure.
In a victory address, the TNA leader R Sampanthan said, "once the new parliament has been formed, based on our election manifesto, we have resolved to address matters to be fulfilled regarding a political solution and the people's immediate needs without any delay."
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