COLOMBO, June 30 -- A Tamil constitutional initiative has moved to accelerate preparations for Sri Lanka's anticipated constitutional reform process by appointing three specialist committees to develop a common Tamil position on a political solution to the island's long-running ethnic grievances.

The Steering Committee of the Eelam Tamil Constitutional Assembly decided at an online meeting on Sunday (28) to establish a drafting committee, a public awareness committee and a public consultation committee to prepare a constitutional framework, engage with the public and gather views before finalizing the proposal.

The initiative aims to formulate a unified Tamil position that could be presented when the government begins drafting a new con...