India firm on 13A
By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday urged all Sri Lankan stakeholders to engage constructively, in a spirit of partnership and mutual accommodation, towards finding a political solution that builds upon the 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution.
The Prime Minister met the six-member TNA delegation, led by MP R. Sampanthan, yesterday afternoon at his office.
The PM stressed the need for a political solution that addresses the aspirations of the Tamil community for equality, dignity, justice and self-respect within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.
'In this context,' he said, "All stakeholders in Sri Lanka should engage constructively, in a spirit of partnership and mutual accommodation, towards finding a political solution that builds upon the 13th Amendment." The TNA briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Sri Lanka and their assessment and expectations regarding devolution and national reconciliation.
On Friday, when the TNA delegation met Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, she too insisted that the 13th Amendment is the substantial solution for Sri Lanka and it was the framework India is currently working on.
When the Indian press questioned the Official Spokesman of the MEA, Syed Akbaruddin, on Friday evening, whether the substantial solution for Sri Lanka is the 13A, he said, "You are aware that the 13A was stemming from the India-Sri Lanka Accord, and that is something that the Sri Lankans have themselves adopted as their legislative framework, and that is the framework in which we are working currently."
The TNA delegation made a presentation to the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in a fairly detailed manner about what they perceive as the current situation in Sri Lanka, in terms of the political environment and their engagement or otherwise with the Sri Lankan Government.
"Minister Swaraj patiently listen to them, and she stressed the need for a political solution that addresses substantially the aspirations of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka for equality, dignity, justice and self-respect within the framework of a united Sri Lanka," he said.
New Delhi also said it has not taken any decision to send back Sri Lankan refugees living in Tamil Nadu.
"There is no decision to return them, and the issue was raised in the context of the discussions by the TNA delegation. MP Sampanthan told the minister that a number of refugees would like to go back and resettle, but they are having difficulties because of land-related issues in the Northern Province," the spokesman added.
When the question was raised whether the Government of India endorses Dr. Subramanian Swamy's statement that the Tamil-Sinhalese crisis was a linguistic problem and not an ethnic problem between the two communities, and that it is only a problem of mistrust, he said, "A political solution to the issue that addresses substantially the aspirations of the Tamil community for equality, justice, dignity and self-respect within the framework of a united Sri Lanka was our position and remains so." It is said MP Sampanthan had revealed to the Indian media that Tamil monuments were destroyed by the Sri Lankan military.
Modi wants to meet Wigi
Prime Minister Modi has inquired the TNA delegation whether Northern Province Chief Minister, C. V. Wigneswaran, would like to meet him, Ceylon Today learns.
TNA members have replied 'certainly he would like to come and discuss the practical aspects of working of the 13 A'.
Thereafter, the Prime Minister had looked at his officials and said a meeting with the Chief Minister should be arranged.
By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday urged all Sri Lankan stakeholders to engage constructively, in a spirit of partnership and mutual accommodation, towards finding a political solution that builds upon the 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution.
The Prime Minister met the six-member TNA delegation, led by MP R. Sampanthan, yesterday afternoon at his office.
The PM stressed the need for a political solution that addresses the aspirations of the Tamil community for equality, dignity, justice and self-respect within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.
'In this context,' he said, "All stakeholders in Sri Lanka should engage constructively, in a spirit of partnership and mutual accommodation, towards finding a political solution that builds upon the 13th Amendment." The TNA briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Sri Lanka and their assessment and expectations regarding devolution and national reconciliation.
On Friday, when the TNA delegation met Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, she too insisted that the 13th Amendment is the substantial solution for Sri Lanka and it was the framework India is currently working on.
When the Indian press questioned the Official Spokesman of the MEA, Syed Akbaruddin, on Friday evening, whether the substantial solution for Sri Lanka is the 13A, he said, "You are aware that the 13A was stemming from the India-Sri Lanka Accord, and that is something that the Sri Lankans have themselves adopted as their legislative framework, and that is the framework in which we are working currently."
The TNA delegation made a presentation to the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in a fairly detailed manner about what they perceive as the current situation in Sri Lanka, in terms of the political environment and their engagement or otherwise with the Sri Lankan Government.
"Minister Swaraj patiently listen to them, and she stressed the need for a political solution that addresses substantially the aspirations of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka for equality, dignity, justice and self-respect within the framework of a united Sri Lanka," he said.
New Delhi also said it has not taken any decision to send back Sri Lankan refugees living in Tamil Nadu.
"There is no decision to return them, and the issue was raised in the context of the discussions by the TNA delegation. MP Sampanthan told the minister that a number of refugees would like to go back and resettle, but they are having difficulties because of land-related issues in the Northern Province," the spokesman added.
When the question was raised whether the Government of India endorses Dr. Subramanian Swamy's statement that the Tamil-Sinhalese crisis was a linguistic problem and not an ethnic problem between the two communities, and that it is only a problem of mistrust, he said, "A political solution to the issue that addresses substantially the aspirations of the Tamil community for equality, justice, dignity and self-respect within the framework of a united Sri Lanka was our position and remains so." It is said MP Sampanthan had revealed to the Indian media that Tamil monuments were destroyed by the Sri Lankan military.
Modi wants to meet Wigi
Prime Minister Modi has inquired the TNA delegation whether Northern Province Chief Minister, C. V. Wigneswaran, would like to meet him, Ceylon Today learns.
TNA members have replied 'certainly he would like to come and discuss the practical aspects of working of the 13 A'.
Thereafter, the Prime Minister had looked at his officials and said a meeting with the Chief Minister should be arranged.
