COLOMBO: For the first time since taking office over two years ago, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday, 25 March met leaders of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the country’s most prominent Tamil political grouping.
The Tamil National Alliance and Mr Rajapaksa have failed to meet for talks since Mr Rajapaksa assumed office in November 2019.
A group of TNA Parliamentarians last month staged a protest in front of the Presidential Secretariat demanding to meet the President and discuss the issues faced by the Tamil people in the north and east of the island nation.
The TNA had asked for a meeting with Mr Rajapaksa several times ever since he was elected in November 2019. At least on two occasions, the meeting had been cancelled at the last minute without any reason, the Tamil leaders had charged at the protest.
The TNA wants the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to be made “meaningful” to address the political concerns of the Tamil minority.
During the meeting, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa invited the Tamil National Alliance to work with him and the government.
“Politically you can take any stand, but for the people, we must work together. I am ready for that. The government is also ready for that,” he added.
“Irrespective of ethnicity, or religious difference, I will serve equally all the citizens of this country,” said President Rajapaksa during his meeting with the TNA representatives.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa met with several representatives of the Tamil National Alliance on Friday (25) morning.
The President said he wishes to solve all the issues, and over the past two years he worked with the justice minister on the releasing of suspects who were in custody for a long time, as well as on the revision of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
President Rajapaksa also stressed that he wants to solve the issues of missing people.
“These are things that I can do. Whatever I have to do for the development of the area, that is a priority of us all to improve the living standards of the people in those areas,” said the President.
TNA Leader R. Sampanthan speaking at the meeting said the TNA is committed to using the opportunity to resolve the Tamil national question, which had plagued this country since 1947.
“We hope to achieve this in the framework of a united, undivided, and indivisible Sri Lanka where sovereignty of all people will be respected,” he told the meeting.
The meeting that took place between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) concluded with 5 points discussed, according to a report published in The Morning.
Speaking to MP M A Sumanthiran, it was revealed that the meeting took place for over 2 hours in which several important factors were discussed and certain agreements were made on how to take forward the concerns of the people of the North.
“During the meeting we came to certain agreements. The main issue pertaining to the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was discussed with Prof G L Peiris and currently the Government is awaiting the report from Prof Romesh De Silva which would take another 2 months or so. In the meantime, it was agreed upon that long term detainees under the PTA will receive an early release. Those prisoners who do not have charges against them will also receive a release after their cases have been reviewed. Minister of Justice Ali Sabry and I will be having a look at the cases and will be presenting them to the President and discussions will take place on how to proceed,” said Sumanthiran.
He further added that issues pertaining to land in the north which would be going against democracy was to be stopped immediately.
“Change of district, division or maritime boundaries will not take place. Special law implementations related to archeology, wildlife and forests will be temporarily halted with immediate effect. The Government will talk with the TNA again in regards to those special laws. People who have cultivated in land for a long time will be able to continue with no hinderances and fisherman will be able to continue with their jobs. Wherever livelihood activities have taken place, those will not be stopped,” Sumanthiran said.
Sumanthiran added that it was also discussed during the meeting that the Rs 100,000 that was approved by the Government for the people who had disappeared in the North was not a compensation, but a temporary relief.
“As for enforced disappearances, it was clarified by the President that the Rs 100,000 which was given to the families who had a member who disappeared, was not a compensation, but a temporary relief to the family. The President said that investigations will commence immediately into the missing persons and justice be given to the families as well,” he mentioned.
The discussion also included interim talks of a special development fund for the people of the northern region, said Sumanthiran.
“We discussed about a special development fund for the war devastated north and east. The Government said that they will do everything possible to create the right atmosphere to attract diaspora funding,” he stated.
When further inquired whether he considers today’s meeting as a successful meeting, Sumanthiran said that he would not like to classify the meeting as successful or unsuccessful, but added that it was good that the TNA was able to discuss the main concerns with the Government.
“The PTA will take some time and we will have to wait for the report, but we hope the Government would execute solutions as discussed before the next meeting,” he concluded.
