Govt, TNA talks in progress

by Shanika SRIYANANDA

The Government and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which met yesterday to find a political solution to the grievances of the people in the North and the East discussed the basic principles of devolution of power.

TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran told the Sunday Observer that they had also discussed the issue of bringing changes into the Concurrent List and the government agreed to consider the matter.

The fifth round of talks between the Government and the TNA to discuss a permanent solution to the issues regarding Tamils were held at the Presidential Secretariat with the participation of Ministers Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Prof. G.L. Peiris.

The TNA was represented by MPs Suresh Premachandran, Mavai Senathirajah, and M.A. Sumanthiran. Premachandran said they also discussed day-to-day issues such as access to visit the ex-LTTE cadres under rehabilitation. “The Government representatives agreed to consider the matter and issue a statement before May 12”, he said.

The Government and the TNA commenced talks in January and the next round of discussions will be held on May 12.