TNA calls for a political solution

Wednesday, 4 February 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday called for a political solution for Tamils, during talks with visiting US Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Biswal. The TNA also reiterated its position that it will not support a domestic investigation said to be launched by the Government over the war between the LTTE and the military which ended in May 2009. “During our discussions, we have informed her that we do not support the domestic inquiry. We spoke in length about the UN report which will be submitted to the Human Rights Council in Geneva in March and said that an international probe is the only way justice will prevail for the Tamils who have suffered during the war,” TNA Spokesperson Suresh Premachandran. Premachandran said that his party also informed Biswal that the newly elected Government, led by President Maithripala Sirisena had not properly addressed the Tamil issue, especially in areas such as resettlement as lands occupied by the army in the north continued to remain vacant, rather than it being used for resettlement purposes.

“So many Tamils can be resettled in these lands. But the Government is yet to do anything where resettlement is concerned, despite the Tamil people having a lot of expectation in them,” Premachandran said. During their discussions, the TNA also discussed the country’s post-war situation and the upcoming parliamentary elections and “appreciated” the government’s 100-day policy program. Biswal also met the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) today and discussed matters pertaining to the current political situation in the country following the regime change and other relevant issues.