Talks with TNA - Govt optimistic - Nimal Siripala de Silva

By Manjula Fernando

Leader of the House and Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva is heading the Government side at the Talks with TNA as a precursor to the effort to reach a consensus between the South and North on a fitting framework for devolution.

On Thursday the talks took a sudden turn, following its 9th round, when the TNA submitted three conditions to the Government to carry forward the ongoing negotiations which Minister de Silva said were not conducive to the goodwill of the two parties.

The following is an interview the Sunday Observer had with the head of the Government team Minister De Silva (a day before the August 4 Talks round) on the evolving situation re Talks with the TNA and the gray areas where they are yet to reach a consensus.

“This is the most difficult issue for both parties to negotiate. We have embarked upon a very difficult process. I am optimistic that both parties will see eye to eye on all the issues.”

“We are endeavouring very hard to achieve consensus. It is difficult but we are determined to go forward.”

Q: A Parliamentary Select Committee to propose suitable constitutional amendments for a political solution has been mooted by the President. When is this Committee going to be appointed?

A: We will be meeting the TNA on August 4. We will discuss this issue, the appointment of the Parliamentary Select Committee and the possible terms of reference. These are part of the meeting’s agenda. In the meantime we have discussed several other issues pertaining to the devolution of power.

Q: What will be the composition of the select committee?

A: That has to be decided by Parliament itself. We have various precedents, such as the Mangala Munasinghe committee, etc. The Standing Orders in Parliament spell out how a Select Committee is appointed. But we can suspend the Standing Orders, and if necessary, increase the number of members.

In the event that we finally decide to appoint the select committee, the Government will ensure that all the parties represented in the House are included.

Q: There have been several rounds of talks. The TNA has claimed that they were not very happy with the pace the talks are progressing.

A: You have to be mindful that this is not an easy issue. I have taken part in talks with Thamilselvam and Anton Balasingham. This is the most difficult issue for both parties to negotiate. We have embarked upon a very difficult process. I don’t think both parties can see eye to eye on all the issues. But we are trying to find a solution, to find as to what extent we can agree. What alternative avenues, proposals we can agree upon. We are endeavoring very hard to achieve consensus. We have embarked upon a process, it is difficult but we are determined to go forward.

Q: What is the Government’s viewpoint, are you happy with the progress of talks?

A: I am happy because we could start talks with the TNA. There has been a deadlock. Now we are talking to them. We are trying to understand their aspirations, as to what their demands and justifications area. And in the same time, I am sure that they would also have understood our aspirations also. Any solution that is given should earn the credibility not only from the North and the East but from the South as well. If we are to market the final solution, the consensus in the South is vital. I think the TNA has understood this now.

I don’t want to give out details of the discussions at this point. If we divulge details of the talks, it may be counter-productive and could even scuttle the process.

Q: The key demands of the TNA are Police and Land powers to the provinces. What is the stance of the Government with regard to devolution of these powers?

A: Not just police and land powers, there are other areas we need to come to an agreement. Such as the concurrent list and the finance, etc. If you take the devolution process, there are very many ingredients. We can’t say we are agreeable to this and not agreeable to that. We have to evaluate everything thoroughly and then come to a consensus. What exactly do you mean by land powers and police powers? We have to determine through consensus where we draw the line.

There are other important aspects we need to look into, such as education, health and resettlement of displaced persons. We have to discuss all of these.

Q: Certain Tamil political parties hold conflicting opinions to that of TNA policies. These groups are unhappy that only the TNA is taking part in Talks for a political solution

A: No, in parallel we are discussing with the EPDP as well. And we will be discussing with the Muslim parties also. That is why we want to have this Parliamentary Select Committee, because we can bring every political party to the negotiating table. That is one of the justifications for proposing the PSC.

Q: Some believe that the implementation of the 13th Amendment will be a good beginning to resolve the grievances of the people of the North and the East

A: Various parties have their own views with regard to the process of devolution and what has to be done. Even the TNA has its own perceptions concerning the 13th Amendment and its implementation. These are the issues we are discussing at the moment. After the discussions a consensus should emerge. Because it is not only the discussing partners that will ultimately endorse the set of proposals. We have to take on board the other partners of the Government. We cannot do this in isolation.

Q: Will there be a role for India, our immediate neighbour, or any of our closest allies, in the process of fine tuning a political solution? Or will they be consulted before a final draft is presented in Parliament?

A: No, we need not get any foreign country involved in sorting out this issue. Because we have our own bad experience in the past, we tried to get the international community and various countries involved. But that did not work out well. Now we have a very peaceful atmosphere in the country and there is a lot of trust that has been built between the North and the South.

We have eradicated terrorism, so without any fear people, both in the North and the South, can take independent decisions. Therefore, my view is, the situation on the ground is very much conducive for a home grown solution to this problem.

What India and International community are asking for is to talk among ourselves, Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. No one is trying to impose on us a solution.

That has been made very clear. But we need their support. We have eradicated terrorism and we are in a new development era. People who think about the welfare of our country must help us solve these problems rather than try to aggravate it.

Q: Will this final solution be on the lines of the Indian (federal) model?

A: We have not fixed models as such. Whatever the solution, it has to be home grown. That is what the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ envisages. Without labelling it Indian or some other model, the best thing is to seek a Sri Lankan model.

We have to evolve a fitting and agreeable model. We need to arrive at a consensus on certain conflicting issues, powers of central government, powers of provincial councils, land issues.

These are very sensitive areas. So we need to discuss them very carefully. At the moment the unit of devolution is the province.

Q: There are no differences of opinion about the unit of devolution?

A: We have not come to that stage. The TNA has its own views about the unit of devolution and we have our own views about it. In India the trend is to devolve more powers to the village level, more than the provincial level. We have to think everything afresh now as to what is going to be the unit of devolution.

Devolving power itself is not the answer to terrorism. We have to ensure that people in the North are also treated equally. We have to win the confidence of the people.

We must provide them employment and agriculture opportunities and put in place the necessary infrastructure. The President has embarked on this ambitious development program for the North and the East to fulfill this need.

The Local Government election was another gesture of the Government’s goodwill. It was a big achievement that we were able to hold a free and fair election in this region after decades.

Don’t you think it was a great achievement for democracy ? We have given the freedom to select their own representatives for the local bodies. In time they will elect their own people for the Provincial councils as well.

Q: There seem to be resistance from certain sections of the Tamil polity to attempts by Southerners to settle down in the North, set up businesses, etc. This is a right the Northerners have enjoyed in the South even during the height of the conflict. How will this issue be addressed in the final solution?

A: Even at the moment there is no restriction whatsoever for any Southerner to go and live in the North and any Northern person to come and live in the South.

Q: The people may be welcoming their Sinhalese and Muslim brothers and sisters but we have heard political voices against it.

A: We are not going to do any colonisation in those areas. But for business and other purposes the people are free to go. What is necessary is to build the trust and the goodwill, without this it is difficult to engage in any vocation, business or agriculture. That is what the Government intends to do, to build trust and goodwill between the communities.

Q: Irrigating farmlands is a major issue for northern farmers. What are the new irrigation projects targeting the North and the East?

A: We have already started rehabilitating many of the tanks and irrigation systems that have been abandoned during the time of conflict. I had the opportunity to travel to many of the areas in the North and the East. Under the Uthuru Wasanthaya and Nagenahira Navodaya, we have received local as well as foreign funding to rehabilitate these irrigation schemes. Most of them have now been completed.

We are trying to direct excess water from Malwathu Oya in Anuradhapura to Vavuniya to irrigate more land.

At the moment we are providing water to Yodha Wewa in the Trincomalee district. We are distributing excess water in Parakrama Samudraya and a few other tanks in the same area to the Trincomalee district.

As you see we have already started sharing water with the North and the East.

Our immediate aim is not boosting agriculture production in the region. The first thing is to ensure that we give water for North and East farmers during both Yala and Maha seasons. This is our immediate challenge as sometimes we can supply water only in one season. Then our production will increase. The rehabilitation of smaller and medium tanks will be our other priority.

Pic: Sulochana Gamage