FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, July 09, 2013 President to Menon: PSC the Best Forum for Reaching Consensus on 13th Amendment President Mahinda Rajapaksa, during a discussion with India’s National Security Advisor Mr. Shivshankar Menon, said the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) is the best forum to reach a consensus on the implementation of the 13th Amendment. At the meeting that took place at the President’s House in Colombo this morning, President Rajapaksa explained to Mr. Menon the practical problems that exist with devolving land and police powers to the provinces of a small country such as Sri Lanka and stressed that the structure that is implemented should apply and be acceptable to all parts of the country. The President agreed with Mr. Menon that the participation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the PSC is important. It is a top priority of the government to reach a consensus on the 13th Amendment, President Rajapaksa said. The President also urged India to encourage the TNA to participate in the PSC and stated that the government is committed to taking the process forward despite any obstacles. Director of the Indian Prime Minister’s Office Mr. Manu Mahavar, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Mr. Y.K. Sinha and the Deputy High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Mr. P. Kumaran accompanied Mr. Menon. Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Economic Development Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Mr. Douglas Devananda, Monitoring Member of Parliament of the Ministry of External Affairs Mr. Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Secretary to the President Mr. Lalith Weeratunga and the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam also participated in the discussion. .