By Shamindra Ferdinando-December 3, 2013, 9:30 pm
EPDP leader and Minister Douglas Devavnada yesterday said he expected the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to attend the District Development Council (DDC) meetings in Jaffna and Killinochchi in the New Year, though it had boycotted recent meetings.
The Jaffna District MP told The Island that the Government Agents in Jaffna and Killinochchi would consult Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran to explore the possibility of having DDC meetings after Thaipongal. The minister expressed confidence in the TNA agreeing to join him at the discussion table.
The TNA secured the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) comfortably at the Sept. 21 polls winning 30 out of 38 seats.
The UPFA and its constituent, the SLMC shared the remaining eight seats.
Minister Devananda said he was keen to involve retired Supreme Court Justice Wigneswaran in the development programme. The TNA should realise that it couldn’t manage the province on its own, therefore a working partnership was a necessity, he added.
Responding to a query, the minister said that the TNA would have to cooperate with Minister Rishad Bathiutheen with regard to development projects in the districts of Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu.
The Northern Province consisted of the administrative districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu.
Commenting on the ongoing controversy over the possibility of Indian Premier Dr. Manmohan Singh visiting Jaffna on the invitation of Wigneswaran, Devananda said that various interested parties were causing uncertainty. He asserted that there could be more controversies due to forthcoming parliamentary elections in India early next year. The government project to rebuild the Northern Province was on track regardless of internal as well as external challenges, the minister said. The TNA would have to work with the government in partnership to bring relief to those who had experienced untold hardships during the conflict, Devananda said.
