"TNA should make fresh approach"

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris win responding to an adjournment motion by TNA Parliamentary Group Leader R.Sampanthan reiterated the Government's sincere commitment to find a political solution and called upon the TNA to make a fresh approach without resorting to the "blame game" of recalling the past.

Prof. Peiris describing this as a golden opportunity expressed the Government's willingness to discuss with the TNA their proposals. The Minister stressed the importance of ensuring the inclusiveness of the process and urged the TNA not to abandon the opportunity. However, he said categorically that the President would not agree to any form of international intervention towards this process. Sampanthan moving his adjournment motion said that a home-grown political solution should not be made an excuse for the Government to abstain from providing a solution to the national problem.

We too agree that a solution should be found from within but it has been used as an excuse by successive Governments to get away without providing a lasting political solution.

Sampanthan said that the agony of the people is being exploited by various people to make money. He was of the view that if the Government is genuine in its reconciliation efforts, the original lands need to be returned to the people in Walikamam and Sampur where they had lived for decades. This will pave the way to reconciliation.

Linguistic and cultural identities

Sampanthan in his speech disclosed about certain deliberate attempts to create disharmony among the people and disturb the linguistic and cultural identities of the people in the North. He said that reconciliation will not fully operate even if the LLRC recommendations are implemented, it will not ensure reconciliation, he said. Prof. Peiris in his reply said that Sampanthan in his speech did attempt to impute culpability to others. Almost 70 percent of Sampanthan's emotional speech were quotations and references to the past. It is obvious the present is built on the past. But to be captivated by the past is not a constructive approach to find a solution, he said. The Minister described Sampanthan's remarks as an unrealistic approach to find a solution to the issue. He told the House on behalf of the Government that he is legitimately proud of the achievements during the three year post-liberation period. He pointed out that other countries had taken decades to restore normalcy after a conflict.

Minister Peiris told the House how various foreign dignitaries who visited Sri Lanka during the past three years have commended the significant developments in Sri Lanka. Citing an example, Prof. Peiris told the House, that Lord Nesby, a senior member of Britain's House of Lords during his visit to Sri Lanka said no bomb explosions in Sri Lanka after May 2009. He has also told his peers in the House of Lords that the development of infrastructure in Sri Lanka was truly amazing after 2009. Lord Nesby had said that life in Jaffna is bouncing back to normal. Hence the Government is immensely proud of this achievement.

The Minister said that in the event such remarks had been made it would have been highlighted to the world. However, as the remarks were not in their favour the TNA doesn't talk about it. The Minister said this is not an isolated view. Even the European Union, Britain and Germany also maintain the same view. Indian Opposition Leader Sushma Swaraj who visited the North also maintained the same view. The Minister said when there are shortcomings or deficiencies, it should be criticised and the Government is always ready to acknowledge same. There was marked development in the North during the past 36 months. But MP Sampanthan in his speech attempted to paint a very dismal picture. Prof. Peiris said that Sampanthan is waiting for a foreign solution and not a domestic one. There is a group of people who maintain the view that the international community should exert pressure on the Sri Lankan Government. The Minister reaffirmed that the international community neither desires nor is capable of doing it. India has categorically said that it does not wish to intervene in the internal matters of Sri Lanka.

However, some people are building castles in the air to internationalise it. The Minister said that the moderates want a solution based on the hopes and aspirations of the people. Therefore, he called upon the TNA and all political parties to stick to reality. He empatically said that no outside country can impose a solution or intervene in our internal affairs.

Reconciliation

TNA MP, M. A. Sumanthiran who seconded the motion said that the Government is engaging in dilatory tactics rather than taking genuine steps towards reconciliation. Referring to Prof. Peiris' speech in which he asked not to dwell in the past because the past is over, the MP, queried whether this is the way they expect the Government to behave? The MP also said the Government has been repeatedly talking of a political solution for the past three years, but no meaningful steps have been taken to deliver the promise.

He was of view that the Minister didn't answer their queries but quoted what Lord Nesby said. Sumanthiran said the several rounds of talks between the Government and the TNA, proved futile. He urged the Government to act with a sense of responsibility without further delay in bringing together all sections of the people together and seeking a solution to the issues relating to Tamils. The MP said that the international community is concerned about Sri Lanka because the Government has not provided a home grown solution to the problem.

However, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda in his hard-hitting speech countered most of the points raised by Sampanthan in his speech. Minister Devananda referring to the Tamil People's land problems said that, the TNA has not acted to solve problems pertaining to the Tamils. They have acted against Tamils. That is why TNA members are rejected by the Tamil people. Tamil people in the North and the East live peacefully and freely today. They need a political solution but the TNA has not done anything to come up with any solution.

The TNA is only concerned with their personal benefits. The Minister told the House in lighter vein, when frogs croak, it means the rain season is at hand. Likewise when TNA moves this kind of motion, it means an election has come. The Minister said they should educate the people on the false statements made by the TNA. Apart from grabbing the votes of Tamils, TNA does not have a genuine desire to find out solutions to their problems. The Minister challenged the TNA to explain their stand to the Tamils. Minister Devananda told the House though the TNA speaks about the nationality of Tamils, they have engaged in opportunist politics for personal gain.

He described this like playing cricket in Colombo and doing politics in the North. The people will not accept this double standard adopted by the TNA. The problems faced by the Tamil speaking people and TNA are completely different. The TNA tours throughout the world by misrepresenting the grievances faced by the innocent Tamil people. They avoid every opportunity provided to sort out the issue in a very opportunistic manner. Their intention is to bequeath this problem to the next generation.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Parliament on Wednesday and attended the sessions for about 10 minutes. When the President arrived at the Chamber, UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera was raising questions from Ports and Highways Deputy Minister Nirmala Kotelawala. The President took the seat allocated to him in the front row of the Government side and was chatting with ministers.

When Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena wanted to reply to some queries raised by JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake previous day, the President left the Chamber.The Minister in his lengthy speech found fault with teachers' trade unions for blowing the issue of errors in question papers out of proportion with the intention of instigating the public against the Government.