TNA wants army out of Jaffna

August 4, 2013

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says contrary to claims by the military, thousands of troops are still in Jaffna.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan said that while the army claims there are only 13,000 soldiers remaining in Jaffna, in reality the figure is over 100,000.

He said that there are 15 army divisions in Jaffna and in each division there are some 10,000 soldiers.

The TNA leader said that his party had mentioned this even in parliament but it was never denied by the government.

He noted that while the army has vacated some private homes and land in Jaffna more remains to be handed over to the rightful owners.

Sampanthan said the government must keep its promise to the UN and the international community and withdraw the army from Jaffna. (Colombo Gazette)

Sri Lanka Tamil party disappointed with President's stance on land and police powers to provinces
Sun, Aug 4, 2013, 10:47 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Aug 04, Colombo: Sri Lanka's major Tamil party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has expressed disappointment over President's stance on land and police powers to provinces.
Leader of the TNA, R. Sampanthan speaking to media has said that the President Mahinda Rajapaksa changes his stance on devolving police and land powers from time to time.
President Rajapaksa addressing a meeting with the heads of electronic and print media last week said that his stance on the issue of distribution of police and land powers to provincial councils has not changed and reiterated that the powers will remain with the government.
Sampanthan has said that the Tamil party would respond to the President's statement at the right time.
"He (the President) does not seem to have any steady decision. The TNA is observing his comments and at the right time the Alliance will come out with the response to the President," Sampanthan has told the media.

The President said police and land powers were not implemented since the introduction of the Provincial Council system to the country and he doesn't consider that the issue should be given special attention now ahead of the first ever provincial council election to the Northern Province.