Rajapaksa Irked By TNA’s Visit To India

August 24, 2014

President Rajapaksa has been heavily vexed at the TNA meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has expressed his discontent through an emissary to TNA leader R. Sampanthan, the weekly English newspaper Sunday Times reports.

In its political column today, the ST has revealed that President Rajapaksa expressed his displeasure to Sampanthan through an emissary before the departure of the TNA delegation. According to the columnist, the President had been vexed about the lack of intimation to the government and had described TNA delegation’s trip to New Delhi as a step aimed at ‘cornering him and his government’ and with the aim of changing the government.

Moreover, he had also referred to the re-appointment of Northern Province Governor G. A. Chandrasiri – one of the causes of friction between the UPFA government and the TNA – and stated that he earlier agreed not to extend Chandrasiri’s term only because the Provincial Council had adopted a resolution to oust him.

President Rajapaksa who expressed his discontent furthermore, has been quoted in ST as stating however despite wherever Sampanthan and his party goes, they would eventually have to come to him – otherwise they will not be able to talk about resolving issues.

Meanwhile, the same sources have been quoted in ST as stating that Sampanthan had rejected the accusations that their visit was aimed at prompting a government change. “Whatever is said and done, I am the leader of a Tamil political party. We are seeking a political solution. We are going at the invitation of the government of India to explain our position,” he had said responding to President’s emissary.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan and five TNA MPs including Mavai Senathirajah, MA Sumanthiran, Selvam Adaikkalanathan, Suresh Premachandran and Pon Selvaraj met Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday.

Indian External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Syed Akbaruddin commenting on meeting had said, “Sushma Swaraj stressed on the need for a political solution that addresses substantially the aspirations of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka that ensure equality, dignity, justice and self respect within the framework of united Sri Lanka.”

TNA delegation meanwhile had a meeting with the Indian PM on Saturday where several issues including the fuller implementation of the 13th amendment to the constitution was discussed.