President’s open invitation to TNA stands - Lalith Weeratunga

by P. Krishnaswamy

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s open invitation to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to meet him still stands. Therefore, party leaders should take an initiative to meet President Rajapaksa to discuss matters relating to the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and development projects for them instead of expressing misgivings over the non-receipt of a written invitation, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga told the Sunday Observer.

He said this in response to a question as to when the President would meet the TNA for discussions. Party leader R. Sampanthan MP is out of the country and the others are only issuing media statements, he said.

At the UN General Assembly speech too, the President called upon all political parties to join him and help resettle the IDPs and the development process, Weeratunga said.

The TNA should move in the matter instead of expecting a written invitation from the President.

The President has taken all steps to resettle the IDPs, provide infrastructure and livelihood facilities for them and launch far-reaching development projects in the North and the East.

As Head of State he also has to focuss on development related activities in other parts of the country and cannot extend written invitations, the President’s Secretary said.

Some sections of the Tamil media have quoted TNA General Secretary and Jaffna MP Mavai Senadhirajah as saying that they want to work in coordination with the Government on resettlement and development projects and wish to discuss it with the President.

He said this in response to a question by the Sunday Observer as to how soon they would meet the President.