President to resolve IDP issues within six month

By N.Parameswaran

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday assured complete resolution of IDP issues in the Northern Province within six month.

He gave this assurance when he visited Jaffna to participate at a Christmas caroling event. 

Deputy Minister of Child affairs,  Vijayakala Maheswaran and SLFP nominated  MP Angajan Ramanathan requested the President to visit an IDP camp. Thereafter President visited the Konapulam camp in Mallakam,  spoke to IDPs and saw their houses. He also inquired into their needs. 

One IDP said they were living in the camp for the past 25 years  and requested to be resettled their own villages.  

In Jaffna there are around 2,000 IDP families.

“Some extremists in Colombo conduct press conference and claim the new government is allowing exLTTEers to regroup. These are baseless and national security is much stronger now. I’m urging these extremists to come and see the IDPs  and talk to them. If they are willing to come to Jaffna, I’ll provide  vehicles and fuel to them, if they want to come by ship, I’ll provide a ship for them,” the President said. Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Vigneswaran, Governor G.H.M.S., Palihakara,  Christian Affairs  and Tourism Minister John Amarathunga, Deputy Child Affairs Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran and SLFP Jaffna MP Anagjan Ramanathan also participated at the Christmas carols. 

Tamil People’s Council formed in Jaffna

​

​By N. Parameswaran

A new civil society grouping called the Tamil People’s Council was established in Jaffna on Saturday with Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran and Dr. P. Lakshman functioning as Presidents.

EPRLF leader and ex-Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran, TNPF leader and ex MP Gajendrakumar Ponnampalam, Nallur Adeena Swami Somasundara Paramacharya, two catholic priests, two doctors and a few other TNA politicians and some well wishers participated in the meeting.  They formed two subcommittees, one to draw proposals for the national question and another committee to look into cultural affairs. 

Dr. Lakshman said the TPC would be similar to a pressure group whilst Wigneswaran said the formation of the new organisation was not to take revenge on anybody.