PTI | 09:09 PM,Sep 16,2011
Colombo, Sept 16 (PTI) The government and Sri Lanka’s main Tamil party TNA today resumed the stalled direct talks aimed at seeking a solution to the political aspirations of the minority ethnic community on “an acceptable constitutional arrangement”.”It was agreed that the talks could continue on the basis of the discussion paper submitted by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on March 18 along with earlier proposals,” a joint statement said after the direct talks resumed today.The TNA had walked out of the talks at the end of August demanding urgent government response to their proposals.”We have agreed to continue talks on October 3 based on our paper. The paper proposed devolution of power to the provinces - executive and judicial powers, finances, powers to receive foreign aid etc,” Suresh Premachandran, a senior TNA parliamentarian and a participant at the talks told PTI. TNA in other words are looking for meaningful implementation of the thirteenth amendment adopted in 1987 with Indian mediation to end Sri Lanka’s ethnic impasse.Analysts said the resumption of talks was a welcome sign given government statements blaming the TNA of adopting a rigid stance.This was to be the 11th round of direct talks between the two sides and first since the government announced its intention to set up a parliamentary select committee to run parallel with the talks with main Tamil party.The LTTE waged a bloody three-decade civil war for a separate state for the Tamils of Sri Lanka, alleging discrimination against the minority community at the hands of the majority Sinhalas. The Lankan military crushed the rebels in May 2009 and ended the ethnic conflict that killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people.
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US Urged to Deny Sri Lanka President Entry
US Urged to Deny Sri Lanka President Entry
TGTE Urges US to deny Sri Lanka President Entry; Like it denied entry to Kurt Waldheim /EINPresswire.com/ Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) citing § 212(a)(3)(E)(ii) and § 212(a)(3)(E)(iii) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act appealed to the United States Government to not to allow Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse to visit the United States for committing torture, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide against the Tamil people. Full Story>>>
