By Kamani Hettiarachchi
The government informed the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) last week it was unable to agree to any of its three major proposals which ranged from merging the North-East to handing over of police power and state lands to Provincial Councils.
Another round of talks between the UPFA and the TNA aimed at finding a permanent solution to the North-East issue was held on December 6 at the parliament complex. The above mentioned decision
was formally announced to the TNA delegation at this meeting.
Finding a solution
The government informed the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) last week it was unable to agree to any of its three major proposals which ranged from merging the North-East to handing over of police power and state lands to Provincial Councils.
Another round of talks between the UPFA and the TNA aimed at finding a permanent solution to the North-East issue was held on December 6 at the parliament complex. The above mentioned decision
was formally announced to the TNA delegation at this meeting.Finding a solution
It was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who took the initiative to invite the TNA for talks with the government as a means of finding a solution to the long drawn out ethnic issue in the country. The first round of such talks took place on Jan 10 this year.
The government delegation was led by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, while the TNA delegation was headed by party leader R. Sampanthan.
Among others in the UPFA delegation were Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and MPs Sajin Vaas Gunawardena and Prof. Rajiva Wijesingha.
Among those representing the TNA were MPs Mavai Senathiraja, Suresh Premachandran, M.A. Sumanthiran and K. Kanageeshwaran.
When contacted, TNA MP Sumanthiran said that in keeping with the all-party concept suggested by the president back in 2006, and with the sole and sincere motive of devolving power within a united framework of Sri Lanka, his party had agreed to hold talks with the government.
Both the TNA and the UPFA delegations then held talks on December 3 of this year. The government delegation requested the TNA delegation to put forward their proposals in writing.
TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said that as per that request of the government, his party would be forwarding an official set of proposals in the form of a discussion paper by December 19.
He said the two parties had also met in this connection on September 16 and afterwards they had decided to meet on December 6, 14 and 15.
Rejection
The government delegation was led by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, while the TNA delegation was headed by party leader R. Sampanthan.
Among others in the UPFA delegation were Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and MPs Sajin Vaas Gunawardena and Prof. Rajiva Wijesingha.
Among those representing the TNA were MPs Mavai Senathiraja, Suresh Premachandran, M.A. Sumanthiran and K. Kanageeshwaran.
When contacted, TNA MP Sumanthiran said that in keeping with the all-party concept suggested by the president back in 2006, and with the sole and sincere motive of devolving power within a united framework of Sri Lanka, his party had agreed to hold talks with the government.
Both the TNA and the UPFA delegations then held talks on December 3 of this year. The government delegation requested the TNA delegation to put forward their proposals in writing.
TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said that as per that request of the government, his party would be forwarding an official set of proposals in the form of a discussion paper by December 19.
He said the two parties had also met in this connection on September 16 and afterwards they had decided to meet on December 6, 14 and 15.
Rejection
However, when the two parties met in parliament, the government delegation informed them that they could not agree to the three suggestions of the TNA.
When contacted Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that as the official media spokesman of the said talks was MP Sumanthiran, it was best that his views are sought in this regard.
MP Sumanthiran stated that though the government rejected their proposals, it had promised to look into them again before the next round of talks.
Cabinet spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella stated that even though the government rejected the three major proposals, they had agreed to the rest of the suggestions put forward by the TNA.
The next round of talks will take place on December 14-15.
When contacted Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that as the official media spokesman of the said talks was MP Sumanthiran, it was best that his views are sought in this regard.
MP Sumanthiran stated that though the government rejected their proposals, it had promised to look into them again before the next round of talks.
Cabinet spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella stated that even though the government rejected the three major proposals, they had agreed to the rest of the suggestions put forward by the TNA.
The next round of talks will take place on December 14-15.
