TNA not concerned

By Ananth Palakidnar-Wednesday, 11 Sep 2013

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian, M.A. Sumanthiran, reiterating that the TNA's Northern Provincial Council election manifesto was prepared in a manner to uphold the right of self-determination of the Tamils and to preserve the integrity of the country, said the Alliance is not concerned about the withdrawal of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) from the special Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) citing the TNA's manifesto as the reason.

Sumanthiran told Ceylon Today, the TNA's manifesto highlighted its political aspirations within the framework of the Constitution of the country.

"First of all, I would like to mention the TNA was aware about the attitudes of the political parties in the calibre of the JHU. That's why the Alliance did not even take part in the PSC. The JHU is vehemently opposed to the 13th Amendment. Therefore, they were looking for an opportunity to keep away from the special PSC on the amendment. However, they had cited the TNA's manifesto as the reason for the withdrawal from the special PSC. Hence, the TNA has nothing to comment about the JHU's present move. The TNA has the freedom to prepare its own manifesto.

The manifesto emphasizes the political aspirations of the Tamils, while upholding the integrity of the country. The manifesto does not contain anything new and they are the outcome of the past political struggle of the Tamils in the country. Therefore, if the JHU cannot understand the TNA's manifesto the Alliance cannot help it. Nothing has been mentioned about the division of the country or anything against the Constitution of the country. So, the JHU's announcement on taking action against the manifesto is ridiculous," Sumanthiran said.