TNA challenged to "develop north if possible"

26 July, 2011

Sri Lanka’s ruling party has challenged the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to bring about development if possible to the north.

Minister Ranwaka posed this challenge with referance to the landslide victory of the TNA at the local polls in the North.

Federal system

President of Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka talking to media on the recently concluded local government elections said that local government election results do not reflect that there should be a federal system in the country.

Tamil National Alliance with other Tamil parties won twenty local government bodies in the North on Saturday’s elections.
unitary state

Minister Ranawaka said that the ruling party has now received a total of 56 percent of votes in the local government bodies including the north for a unitary state of the country.

The minister warned that under this background; winning a few local bodies, TNA should not try to challenge the majority by demanding lands rights and police powers.

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New Democratic MPs behind Layton, Mulcair says

CBC News Canada    Jul 26, 2011

Support continued to pour in Tuesday for NDP Leader Jack Layton following his announcement a day earlier that he is battling another form of cancer. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

NDP deputy leader Thomas Mulcair says the whole party is standing behind Jack Layton in his fight against cancer.

Layton stepped down as party leader Monday to concentrate on his health, recommending the party's federal council choose Hull-Aylmer, Que., MP Nycole Turmel as interim leader.
Mulcair said he supports that recommendation, pointing out he was there to help announce Turmel's candidacy.      Full Story>>>