TNA not keen to solve Northern problem – S.B. Dissanayake

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake said the TNA has no genuine desire to seek a solution to the problems faced by people in the North. If the problem remains unsettled it would be ideal for the TNA for its political survival.

Political parties may have their own stand on this issue, but they should participate in the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) and discuss it at the PSC. There can’t be any hidden agendas on this issue, the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

Commenting on the intransigence on the part of the UNP, TNA and the JVP for not taking part in the PSC, the Minister said the UNP, TNA and the JVP should clearly express their views on the Northern problem.

The Tamil issue is not a problem only for the UPFA Government and as such it is incumbent on all Opposition parties to participate in the PSC and express their views on power devolution.

Minister Dissanayake said the Mahinda Chintana Vision for the Future has clearly outlined that it would discuss and reach a common consensus among political parties on this issue.

Even Ministers within the Government, can’t express different views on this issue as there is one particular common goal agreed upon by all constituent partners of the Government.

If the TNA still advocates Eelam, they should say so before the PSC. The UNP can also express its views before the PSC. At present the TNA is solely dependent on the pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora.

Their families are in foreign countries. Therefore, they have no genuine desire to find a lasting solution to this problem, the Minister said.