PA, UNP discuss control of land use

COLOMBO, JUNE 9. The contentious issue of control of land use was the main issue of discussion when the ruling People's Alliance and the Opposition United National Party (UNP) met this afternoon for consultations on the government's proposed Constitutional reforms.

A joint communique issued by both sides said, without going into specific details, that ``agreement was reached on several matters'' relating to the land provisions. It said a sub- committee on the land provisions would tackle the remaining matters, and that dates for more meetings between the two sides were fixed.

Today's meeting was presided over by the President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, at her official home, Temple Trees.

The PA delegation included the Constitutional Affairs Minister, Mr. G. L. Peiris and the Minister for Ports and Rehabilitation, Mr. M. H. M. Ashraff.

The UNP was led by Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe and included party chairman, Mr. Karu Jaysuriya and the general secretary, Mr. Gamini Athukorale.

Mr. Wickremesinghe told The Hindu later that today's discussion was focussed more on the technical aspects of the land issue, such as the categorisation of types of land, rather than on the stickier legal aspects of the proposals.

The UNP's position on the issue is that control over land should continue to be vested with the Centre, while the proposals are for handing it over to the regions.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said the two sides had agreed to continue meeting even after June 15, the date earlier set by the President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, as the deadline for finishing consultations with the UNP.

``That deadline cannot be met, because we missed three meetings,`` he said. A meeting scheduled for earlier this week had to be postponed as Ms. Kumaratunga was unable to keep the appointment.

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