APRC chairman says president was forced to war by the Tamil Tigers

Minister Tissa Vitharana who is also the chairman of the multi-party body to find a political solution, told BBC Sandeshaya that President Rajapaksa was forced to take military action by the Tamil Tigers themselves.

President Rajapaksa “honestly tried his best”, Prof. Vitharana said, to negotiate with the LTTE but the rebels launched “provocative attacks”.

Majority of the political parties in the ruling coalition support devolution of power to in resolving the national question, the minister added.

Weerawansa faction

Minister Vitharana is in UK with a group of parliamentarians representing All Party Representative Committee (APRC).

	Minister says government will benefit from the JVP split

All major opposition parties including the United National Party (UNP) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) boycott the APRC.

Ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) recently approved APRC proposal to fully implement the 13 amendment to the constitution as the first step towards finding a political solution.

Commenting on the recent split in the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Minister Vitharana said Weerawansa faction joining the government would strengthen the governing coalition in the parliament.

However, it will also be an obstacle in finding a political solution based on devolution of power.