The Up-country People’s Front in its fresh proposal submitted to the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) on Tuesday, called for a power sharing unit for Up-country Tamils by amalgamating the areas where they are in large numbers namely the Central, Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces.

It said that if necessary, the district boundaries could be re-demarcated to carve out the proposed power sharing unit. As an example the UPF cited the Belgium model of power sharing which has both characteristics, the territorial and non-territorial based power sharing. It further said the territorial based power sharing unit could be carved out non-contiguously like Pondicheri Union territory in South India and also by any other suitable non-contiguous territorial power sharing methods prevailing in other parts of the world could also be considered.

For their security and development of Tamils scattered in other parts of the country, the UPF suggested the establishments of development councils similar to the community councils in Belgium.

It further suggested that the proposed power sharing unit should be vested with legislative power, a Chief Minister and a Council of Ministers, Governor, control over land and Police and right to have assistance from foreign countries and other agencies for development work.