Under pretext of Provincial Council system:
Extreme political elements in North can spell disaster
by Uditha Kumarasinghe
Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody said if any extreme political
elements in the North attempt to realise their political dreams under
the pretext of the Provincial Council system, the whole country will
suffer again.
Those elected should have a proper understanding about their
responsibilities. If they try to use the mandate given to them by the
people to destabilise the country, it would be a very serious issue as
far as the country’s democracy is concerned. Ultimately the people in
that province will suffer again. It is quite evident that people in the
North don’t want to return to that brutal era which continued for almost
three decades, the Deputy Speaker told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
People in the North need development, reconciliation and their rights
safeguarded.
The Government is now on the correct track of fulfilling the
aspirations of people in the North. Therefore, whatever provincial
government gets elected in the North, it should support the Government’s
endeavour to develop the area, he said.
Weerakkody said the TNA does not have an agenda of its own to improve
the livelihood of the Tamil community. The TNA is trying to go back to
their bygone era. The majority of the TNA members are from Colombo
elitist families who barely have any understanding about the lifestyle
and grievances of the Tamils in the North. The TNA’s Chief Ministerial
candidate for the Northern Provincial Council election was also born and
bred in Colombo.
Therefore, the gap between the people in the North and the TNA
representatives will deepen further. If the TNA is keen on helping
people, they should select candidates from the area who understand the
people’s grievances. |