TNA holds talks with U.S. officials

The  Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Wednesday met with the visiting top U.S. officials for discussions on critical issues.

Members of the TNA met with the visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Biswal, and Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski today at the official residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Colombo, Atul Keshap.

The TNA delegation included party leader R. Sampanthan, MP M.A. Sumanthiran and Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran.

Addressing media after the meeting, MP Sumanthiran, who was elected to parliament from the TNA at the recent elections, said the discussion with the American officials this morning was headed by TNA leader Sampanthan.

The discussions focused on the UN international investigation report to be submitted in Geneva next month, the resettlement of the displaced and the release of political prisoners, he said.

The U.S. officials have assured to discuss the issues with the Sri Lankan Government.

They announced today that the U.S. will sponsor a resolution at next month’s United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva supporting the government to conduct its own domestic probe into the alleged war crimes committed during the war with the LTTE.

The Tamil party has earlier rejected a domestic probe into the alleged war crimes saying that they have no faith in government mechanisms despite assurances given by the government that the domestic probe will meet international standards.